Free public transport

[Adlington]

This issue, in the UK bus services context, is discussed here.

Estonia offers free transport for its residents across much of the country from 1 July 2018, applicable 24 hours every day.

The country is already a world leader in free public transit after fares on buses, trains and trams in Tallinn were abolished in 2013. Estonia's Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure, Kadri Simson, said there will be a transition process to implement the free journeys across the country, although some areas have opted out of the scheme.

On the other hand, Paris will not abolish transport fares:

Making public transport services in the Paris area completely free-of-charge would reduce car traffic by only 2%, overwhelm the network and add €500 a year to household tax bills in the Ile-de-France region, according to the findings of a study published on October 2]
he study concludes that free travel would result in an immediate 6-10% uplift in public transport ridership, which would have a detrimental impact on service quality across the network.

The transition to free public transport would require €2.2-3.3bn in additional funding.

More than 1 million people already benefit from free travel or reduced fares in the region and Ile-de-France Mobility says making access to the network completely free would not improve social equity as those who can most afford to bear the price of transport would benefit most.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Some of the "free" travel offers in Europe are limited to residents (by using local identity cards) or sometimes to EU citizens (eg free travel for seniors in Hungary).
Something else UK residents will lose come 29 March 2019.
Even Australia goes out of its way to restrict concessions to locals.

 

[Adlington]

In most (all?) Polish towns local transport is free to seniors over 70, irrespective of nationality/residence. Something to look forward to, even after 29 March 2019...

 

[duesselmartin]

The idea was suppose to be tested in Germany. Nobody was prepared to carry the cost of revenue loss, let alone of extra rolling stock and staff. The idea died quickly.

My favorite idea ist a heavily subsidised transport. 20 Pounds per month for a city like Düsseldorf / Essen / Leipzig could get get people out of their cars while still emphasizing that nothing is for free.

 

[paddington]

Geneva has free public transport for everyone staying in a hotel (and for about 1 hr after leaving the airport)

In 2013 there were maybe 10 or more suburbs around Sydney and some a bit further away which had free buses for everyone, but this was quickly reduced to about 3 or 4.

 

[CMS]

The entire bus network in Dunkerque has recently made free - including the cross border route to De Panne SNCB station in Belgium. (https://www.lesechos.fr/pme-regions...e-bus-a-dunkerque-devient-gratuit-2201494.php)

 

[30907]

Geneva has free public transport for everyone staying in a hotel (and for about 1 hr after leaving the airport)

Very common in countries with a tourist tax system - the most spectacular area is the Konus card in the Black Forest - but locals (and usually day trippers) are excluded.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Very common in countries with a tourist tax system - the most spectacular area is the Konus card in the Black Forest - but locals (and usually day trippers) are excluded.

I think it's a good system, as it encourages visitors to park their car up for their trip (if they arrive that way) and use public transport.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

InterCity hotels in Germany used to give free local transport passes fior their hotel guests, not usre if they still do now? I think some hotels in Basle did they same. Belgium may do something similar so I heard.

 

[Journeyman]

Local buses in Torshavn, capital of the Faroe Islands, are free. Given how small the place is, the network is surprisingly comprehensive.

 

[SHD]

Aubagne (France, near Marseille) has a free at the point of use public transport system including a light rail line.

http://www.lignes-agglo.fr/ftp/FR_document/Aubagne 2018-v5.pdf

If I am not mistaken, it is a unique example in Europe of free-at-the-point-of-use rail transportation, with the exception of people movers (e.g. at airports) and some funiculars.

 

[dutchflyer]

In most (all?) Polish towns local transport is free to seniors over 70, irrespective of nationality/residence. Something to look forward to, even after 29 March 2019...

NO-quite a lot of these stipulate its only for locals-or for Polish people. Some have now reorganised it as being available only on a local citizens-chipcard. or its not free but cost like 10 or 20 PLN (2-4 GBP) for a whole year.
These same applies for most towns in CZ and SK.

InterCity hotels in Germany used to give free local transport passes fior their hotel guests, not sure if they still do now? I think some hotels in Basle did they same. Belgium may do something similar so I heard.

Nearly ALL swiss towns do offer that. I had it-both days, when I stayed 1 night at the Luzern Youthhostel a few weeks ago. Its useless if you have (like most of use would have) a kind of Swiss tourist travel pass anyway-as it covers all towns.
ALL IC-HTLs anywhere in DE also offer free transpo-but the area may vary, mostly only the town. However-those in VRR=RHein Ruhr (Dusseldorf, Essen, Duisburg) do offer the whole of VRR-incl. trains to Arnhem, Venlo in NL. (normal 24 hr ticket is about 32eur). IC-HTLs tend to be quite pricey for what U get, but most have lower weekend or senior rates. In DUS many more cheaper HTLs also offer this. Many nature-reserve areas in DE also offer it-there are often very large and informative folders with excellent country-railmaps at DB-stations detailing it all.

There is/used to be a site promoting free public transp. travel - someone else can google for it.
FREE train travel is also for anyone from 62 (not just EU) in Slovakia on ZSR-but you must first get a customercard (needs foto) and then get a 0 ticket anytime you go-with restricted quota for fast trains on busy days.
Many more French towns offer free-or nearly free-local transport (fares like 30 or 50 cents cannot be taken very seriously).
Various small local Belgian local councils (only in Vlaanderen) still offer free local bus-transp. on DeLIJN buses-but as it has a flat fare, the trip going there would already cover it anyway. Many restrict this to marketdays only.
PRAHA-city: half fare from 60, free from 65 (probably again only for EU-nationals) BUT a customercard (pruvoz duchodce) must first be had from any DPP office (except airport), pay 20 CzK + 1 foto. As long as this lasts-will also be transferred to chipcards.
Czech Railways (CD) have since 1/9/18 75% discount for all from 65 off normal fares, with just ID. Formerly it was less and a IN-kart railcard was needed.
And for bargain hunters:
hardly known (as so many things EU) in the UK; but the 3d week of september is EU-public transport/mobility week and then in some countries many free or near-free offers are for those wanting to test out. Esp. in France and Belgium- NMBS offered 5 eur daypasses on sun 16/9, as did many Frecnh regions, and in Brussel it was free-also carfree day. (yes, cars banned! and kids playing on the streets).

 

[30907]

InterCity hotels in Germany used to give free local transport passes fior their hotel guests, not usre if they still do now?.

Yes. ISTR a thread not so long ago.

 

[atraindriver]

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[PaulWC]

Sorry, but I disagree. I've only ever had free travel during hotel stays in Basel, Geneva and Interlaken. Your experience in Luzern adds one more to the list, but that leaves others which don't (Zürich, Winterthur, Bern and Chur, for example).

I can add Lausanne to that list that do offer free travel - I visited there a couple of years back. Fairly sure the Montreux area has something similar as well.

 

[atraindriver]

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[DavidGrain]

I can't speak for the rest of Sweden but having visited Halmstad many times, it was only on my last visit did I discover that I can travel free on the town buses if I have a rail ticket.

Other places I have visited include Basel Switzerland and Bad Richenhalle, Baveria, Germany where local bus travel has been covered by the tourist tax

 

[Adlington]

NO-quite a lot of these stipulate its only for locals-or for Polish people

NO .
There are half-price deals for local pensioners, but urban transport is free for everybody over 70.
Edit: over 75 is some smaller towns.

 

[Taunton]

In London children up to the age of 18 (age 11 for the Underground) can travel for free with a Zip Oyster identity card. When you get to 60 you travel for free again on everything with a Freedom Pass. Thus it's only for 42 years that fares are needed. That's less than half your lifetime for many.

 

[atraindriver]

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[DavidGrain]

I have an ENCTS pass issued by West Midlands Combined Authority which means that I can travel free on London buses but not the Underground. This is why I have started finding my way around London by bus whereas I previously always used the Underground and walked. I still have my Oystercard for the times that I do need to use the Underground. However for those living in England outside of London an ENCTS pass is now available only to those over the state pension age whereas Freedom Passes are available to Londoners over the age of 60.

People living in Scotland and Wales have to pay full fare, as of course so do people living abroad. As was explained to me. London does not charge a Tourist Tax, they just charge visitors more to travel on public transport. (Contactless cards have changed this for visitors who have them).

I find trams confusing. I can travel free on Sheffield trams but not on Nottingham trams. Apparently from comments above I can also travel on the Croydon trams free. I can travel on the West Midlands trams free as I live in the West Midlands county but people from outside the West Midlands can't.

Edit I forgot to mention, I cannot swipe my ENCTS pass on London buses, I have to show it to the driver, most of whom don't seem to care.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I have an ENCTS pass issued by West Midlands Combined Authority which means that I can travel free on London buses but not the Underground. This is why I have started finding my way around London by bus whereas I previously always used the Underground and walked. I still have my Oystercard for the times that I do need to use the Underground. However for those living in England outside of London an ENCTS pass is now available only to those over the state pension age whereas Freedom Passes are available to Londoners over the age of 60.

People living in Scotland and Wales have to pay full fare, as of course so do people living abroad. As was explained to me. London does not charge a Tourist Tax, they just charge visitors more to travel on public transport. (Contactless cards have changed this for visitors who have them).

I find trams confusing. I can travel free on Sheffield trams but not on Nottingham trams. Apparently from comments above I can also travel on the Croydon trams free. I can travel on the West Midlands trams free as I live in the West Midlands county but people from outside the West Midlands can't.

Edit I forgot to mention, I cannot swipe my ENCTS pass on London buses, I have to show it to the driver, most of whom don't seem to care.

These free passes do seem to be confusing about where you can and can not use them.