{"id":429080,"date":"2022-04-08T18:52:44","date_gmt":"2022-04-08T15:52:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/what-do-we-mean-when-we-say-free-public-transport\/"},"modified":"2022-04-08T18:52:44","modified_gmt":"2022-04-08T15:52:44","slug":"what-do-we-mean-when-we-say-free-public-transport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-do-we-mean-when-we-say-free-public-transport\/","title":{"rendered":"#What do we mean when we say &#8216;free&#8217; public transport?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3a943330c9c\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3a943330c9c\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-do-we-mean-when-we-say-free-public-transport\/#%E2%80%9CWhat_do_we_mean_when_we_say_%E2%80%98free_public_transport_%E2%80%9C\" >&#8220;What do we mean when we say &#8216;free&#8217; public transport?\u00a0&#8220;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-do-we-mean-when-we-say-free-public-transport\/#Free_public_transport_when_theres_heavy_pollution\" >Free public transport when there\u2019s heavy pollution\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-do-we-mean-when-we-say-free-public-transport\/#Free_buses\" >Free buses<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-do-we-mean-when-we-say-free-public-transport\/#Make_select_routes_free\" >Make select routes free\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-do-we-mean-when-we-say-free-public-transport\/#Free_public_transport_for_the_elderly\" >Free public transport for the elderly<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-do-we-mean-when-we-say-free-public-transport\/#Completely_free_for_all\" >Completely free for all<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CWhat_do_we_mean_when_we_say_%E2%80%98free_public_transport_%E2%80%9C\"><\/span>&#8220;What do we mean when we say &#8216;free&#8217; public transport?\u00a0&#8220;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n                            <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s a lot of attention right now on the idea of making public transport free. In the first instance, you might think it\u2019s a no-brainer. You can ride public trains, trams, buses, and ferries at no charge. That sounds too good to be true, but they\u2019re a reality in many parts of the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/freepublictransport.info\/city\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">100 cities<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have some form of free public transport, but there are many different models of free public transport, each with its own intention and actual impact. What do they achieve when it comes to economic, infrastructural, and environmental impact?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is part of a <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/watch-movies-tv-seriess\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Watch Movies &amp; TV Series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">series<\/a> of articles on free public transport \u2013 I\u2019m also looking at the specific realities of free public transport and climate change, and whether it serves disadvantaged communities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For now, let\u2019s take a look at the different models, and their pros and cons.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Free_public_transport_when_theres_heavy_pollution\"><\/span><strong>Free public transport when there\u2019s heavy pollution\u00a0<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1384339 js-lazy\" alt=\"free public transport to reduce pollution \" width=\"3072\" height=\"1728\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3072px) 100vw, 3072px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash.jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash.jpeg 3072w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash-280x158.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash-240x135.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash-480x270.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash-2048x1152.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash-796x448.jpeg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash-1592x896.jpeg 1592w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash-1200x675.jpeg 1200w\"\/><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fshift%2F2022%2F04%2F08%2Fwhat-does-free-public-transport-mean-in-different-cities%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Some cities offer free public transport in times of high pollution. Credit: Maks Key\" data-title=\"Share Some cities offer free public transport in times of high pollution. Credit: Maks Key on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Some cities offer free public transport in times of high pollution. Credit: Maks Key on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>Some cities offer free public transport in times of high pollution. Credit: <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/3DIn2bWjNzk\">Maks Key<\/a><\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1384339\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash.jpeg\" alt=\"free public transport to reduce pollution \" width=\"3072\" height=\"1728\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash.jpeg 3072w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash-280x158.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash-240x135.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash-480x270.jpeg 480w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash-2048x1152.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash-796x448.jpeg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash-1592x896.jpeg 1592w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/maks-key-3DIn2bWjNzk-unsplash-1200x675.jpeg 1200w\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As cities are looking for ways to reduce their pollution levels, many are introducing temporary free public transport when pollution or smog is high, including<\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-europe-26574623\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Paris<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2018-01-24\/seoul-tackles-air-pollution-with-free-public-transit\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seoul<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The idea is to get people to use their private vehicles less, and share public transport options to reduce air pollution.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Economic\/Infrastructural\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pros\u00a0<\/span>: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cheaper to implement as it\u2019s short-term.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cons: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It relies on good communication with residents and visitors who may only discover the initiative after the fact, or when prevented from driving somewhere.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Environmental\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pros:<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can have an im<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>te impact on daily pollution levels, especially if it coincides with banning cars.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cons: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A day out of your car doesn\u2019t solve overall pollution problems, and is unlikely to result in long-lasting behavioral change.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Free_buses\"><\/span><strong>Free buses<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1384336 js-lazy\" alt=\"iceland free transport \" width=\"1280\" height=\"606\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/download-58.jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/download-58.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/download-58-280x133.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/download-58-270x128.jpeg 270w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/download-58-540x256.jpeg 540w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/download-58-796x377.jpeg 796w\"\/><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fshift%2F2022%2F04%2F08%2Fwhat-does-free-public-transport-mean-in-different-cities%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Fancy a free bus ride in Iceland? Credit: North Iceland\" data-title=\"Share Fancy a free bus ride in Iceland? Credit: North Iceland on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Fancy a free bus ride in Iceland? Credit: North Iceland on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>Fancy a free bus ride in Iceland? Credit: <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.northiceland.is\/\">North Iceland<\/a><\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1384336\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/download-58.jpeg\" alt=\"iceland free transport \" width=\"1280\" height=\"606\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/download-58.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/download-58-280x133.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/download-58-270x128.jpeg 270w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/download-58-540x256.jpeg 540w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/download-58-796x377.jpeg 796w\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several cities, such as <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.visitakureyri.is\/en\/plan-your-visit\/transport\/free-city-bus\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Akureyri<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Iceland, and <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wymetro.com\/buses\/free-town-and-city-buses\/dewsbury-freetownbus\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dewsbury<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, UK, and <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kcur.org\/news\/2021-05-31\/everyone-gets-a-seat-on-the-bus-for-free-as-kansas-city-transit-returns-to-full-capacity\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kansas City<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, US, offer free bus services.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Economics\/Infrastructural<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pros<\/span>: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Theoretically, free buses should increase usage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Higher usage acts as an impetus to fund more fleets and expand routes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, as there are no ticket checks, passengers can get on and off the bus faster, reducing delays and increasing timetable reliability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cons<\/span>: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, if the service is free, there\u2019s less pressure for buses to run reliably \u2013 users are less likely to complain about something they get without paying for it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, most cities use ticketing as a way to measure usage. There are other options, such as using cameras, motion sensors, and weight sensors to track passenger load, but these require extra investment. That might be difficult to procure when cities have lost revenue by providing free buses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s also no saving for end-users if people need to pay for a train or tram ticket to continue their journey.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Environmental\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pros<\/span>: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Free buses can be a great option to get commuters out of their cars, providing they take the most popular routes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cons<\/span>: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting people out of cars relies on a population living close to bus stops.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, they also require people living close to bus stops with routes that serve their needs. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As Houssam Elokda, Managing Principal at urban planning and architecture firm <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/happycities.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Happy Cities<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, points out, it\u2019s hard to go from 1.2% of a population using buses to mass adoption, especially in a city well served infrastructurally by parking.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Dig deeper, and you see why \u201cabolishing fares\u201d was possible there, but also will have fairly limited impact.<\/p>\n<p>Kansas City has structural problems, that make transit an impossible choice. How can you run effective transit when all you have is suburbia?<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s kind of laughable. 4 <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/G4OvQtZjon\">pic.twitter.com\/G4OvQtZjon<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Houssam Elokda (@HoussamElokda) <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HoussamElokda\/status\/1203002616969478144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 6, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, there needs to be <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ropriate last-mile solutions to get people to bus stops. In March this year, Lyft and Spin <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20220324005264\/en\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">announced a partnership<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to bring Spin scooters to the Lyft app in 60 US markets, including Kansas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1384338 size-featured_img js-lazy\" alt=\"free public transport escooters\" width=\"796\" height=\"531\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/BT4A5130-1-796x531.jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/BT4A5130-1-796x531.jpeg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/BT4A5130-1-280x187.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/BT4A5130-1-203x135.jpeg 203w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/BT4A5130-1-405x270.jpeg 405w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/BT4A5130-1-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/BT4A5130-1-1592x1061.jpeg 1592w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/BT4A5130-1.jpeg 1640w\"\/><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fshift%2F2022%2F04%2F08%2Fwhat-does-free-public-transport-mean-in-different-cities%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Spin escooters are partnering with Lyft to provide last-mile solutions. Credit: Spin\" data-title=\"Share Spin escooters are partnering with Lyft to provide last-mile solutions. Credit: Spin on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Spin escooters are partnering with Lyft to provide last-mile solutions. Credit: Spin on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>Spin escooters are partnering with Lyft to provide last-mile solutions. Credit: <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.spin.app\/press\">Spin<\/a><\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1384338 size-featured_img\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/BT4A5130-1-796x531.jpeg\" alt=\"free public transport escooters\" width=\"796\" height=\"531\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/BT4A5130-1-796x531.jpeg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/BT4A5130-1-280x187.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/BT4A5130-1-203x135.jpeg 203w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/BT4A5130-1-405x270.jpeg 405w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/BT4A5130-1-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/BT4A5130-1-1592x1061.jpeg 1592w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/BT4A5130-1.jpeg 1640w\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It will be interesting to see if this makes a real difference, assuming people want to use escooters as part of their multimodal journeys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Make_select_routes_free\"><\/span><strong>Make select routes free\u00a0<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Making select bus routes free is a new move, being trialed in Boston. In August 2021, the City of Boston launched a two-year <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boston.gov\/news\/two-year-fare-free-program-mbta-bus-routes-23-28-and-29-launches-march-1-2022\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fare-free program<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on bus route 28, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a major connector for Boston residents of Mattapan, Roxbury, and Dorchester to bus, subway, and commuter rail networks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Environmental<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Pros: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A free bus can be an effective way of targeting heavy pollution areas. An example is <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochestermn.gov\/government\/departments\/public-transportation\/how-to-get-around\/park-and-ride-lots\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Park and Ride strategies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where people drive from the outer suburbs to a bus that takes them to the inner city.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Cons: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Such a strategy relies upon having the adequate multimodal infrastructure to meet the needs of commuters who need to <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">travel<\/a> to other routes. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This includes car parking, which can also act as an incentive for commuters to drive in and use the spots for free parking without commuting, thus not saving any carbon miles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Economic\/Infrastructural<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Pros: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">it\u2019s a great strategy if it targets routes that service underserved people. The city of Boston initiative boosted Route 28 ridership by more than 20%. The city <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boston.gov\/departments\/transportation\/free-route-23-28-and-29-bus-program\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">extended<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the trial in March to include an important corridor connecting riders who are underserved by the existing transit network.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Cons:<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> However, only about a third of commuters who participated saved money in Boston. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two-thirds ended up paying for a fare upon transferring to another route or via a monthly pass.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Free_public_transport_for_the_elderly\"><\/span><strong>Free public transport for the elderly<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1384320 size-featured_img js-lazy\" alt=\"Eldery public transport use\" width=\"796\" height=\"531\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/luke-michael-ipyF2bYH-4c-unsplash-796x531.jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/luke-michael-ipyF2bYH-4c-unsplash-796x531.jpeg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/luke-michael-ipyF2bYH-4c-unsplash-280x187.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/luke-michael-ipyF2bYH-4c-unsplash-203x135.jpeg 203w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/luke-michael-ipyF2bYH-4c-unsplash-405x270.jpeg 405w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/luke-michael-ipyF2bYH-4c-unsplash-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/luke-michael-ipyF2bYH-4c-unsplash-1592x1061.jpeg 1592w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/luke-michael-ipyF2bYH-4c-unsplash.jpeg 1640w\"\/><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fshift%2F2022%2F04%2F08%2Fwhat-does-free-public-transport-mean-in-different-cities%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Older people\u2019s public transport use varies significantly by people. Credit: Luke Michael\" data-title=\"Share Older people\u2019s public transport use varies significantly by people. Credit: Luke Michael on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Older people\u2019s public transport use varies significantly by people. Credit: Luke Michael on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>Older people\u2019s public transport use varies significantly by people. Credit: <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/ipyF2bYH-4c\">Luke Michael<\/a><\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1384320 size-featured_img\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/luke-michael-ipyF2bYH-4c-unsplash-796x531.jpeg\" alt=\"Eldery public transport use\" width=\"796\" height=\"531\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/luke-michael-ipyF2bYH-4c-unsplash-796x531.jpeg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/luke-michael-ipyF2bYH-4c-unsplash-280x187.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/luke-michael-ipyF2bYH-4c-unsplash-203x135.jpeg 203w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/luke-michael-ipyF2bYH-4c-unsplash-405x270.jpeg 405w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/luke-michael-ipyF2bYH-4c-unsplash-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/luke-michael-ipyF2bYH-4c-unsplash-1592x1061.jpeg 1592w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/luke-michael-ipyF2bYH-4c-unsplash.jpeg 1640w\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From this week, people living in Israel <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/breaking-news\/article-703078\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">over 75<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will no longer have to pay for public transport. The UK has a similar scheme that grants people over 65 <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ageuk.org.uk\/information-advice\/money-legal\/benefits-entitlements\/free-bus-pass-and-transport-concessions\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a free bus pass<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Economic\/Infrastructural\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pros:<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financially, the impact of free tickets for the aged varies depending on location. In Israel, the research from 2017 found that 68% of the elderly in Israel use public transport, although it\u2019s unclear as to the frequency.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conversely, while it\u2019s hard to get recent comparative numbrs, 2016 <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/fact-tank\/2016\/04\/07\/who-relies-on-public-transit-in-the-u-s\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that just 45% of Americans aged 65 or older use public transport<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, one advantage is that free tickets make public transport more attractive from a user experience perspective. Older people may have previously struggled with wrangling cards and smartphone ticketing, so avoiding tickets entirely might simplify things for them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cons<\/span>: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only<\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ageuk.org.uk\/globalassets\/age-uk\/documents\/policy-positions\/active-communities\/public-transport-march-2020.pdf?_t_id=LLGnIK5PBArFWWl6UqjzlA%3d%3d&amp;_t_uuid=w3uC6NX7RWq%2bvp9D9fNorg&amp;_t_q=public+transport&amp;_t_tags=language%3aen%2csiteid%3ac4f4b17c-5d8d-455f-9d6a-a18c1121c646%2candquerymatch&amp;_t_hit.id=AgeUK_Web_Models_Media_PdfFile\/_56004765-b14e-4f9b-b406-95c724dd03e2&amp;_t_hit.pos=1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 30% of people over 60<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> take a bus at least once a week in the UK. Their most significant reason is that the service does not go where they want it to go. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1.6 million people aged 65+ in England find it difficult to travel to hospitals, and 630,000 find it difficult or very difficult to get to their doctor. 66% of older people cannot reach a hospital within 30 minutes by public transport.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, older people are more likely to have physical disabilities or limitations. So an increasing cohort could agitate to expedite a rollout of accessible buses, trains, and related infrastructure at stations and bus stops. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Such efforts, however, while necessary (and should already be in place!), can be costly for cities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Environmental\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pros<\/span>: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fewer people driving is good. But what about places like Israel, where older people are already using public transport frequently? This won\u2019t do much to change the overall carbon emissions of people in their cars.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cons<\/span>: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The reality is that in places like the US, free public transport for seniors alone is unlikely to reduce carbon emissions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With driving decreasing with age, older people are, in <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a>, likely to spend more time in their local community or rely on relatives for lifts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Further, older people are less likely to utilize micromobility programs like escooters and ebikes. Frequent public transport usage relies on having close, accessible transport, which is not always the reality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Completely_free_for_all\"><\/span><strong>Completely free for all<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1384322 size-featured_img js-lazy\" alt=\"free transport Luxembourg\" width=\"796\" height=\"531\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/1-796x531.jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/1-796x531.jpeg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/1-280x187.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/1-202x135.jpeg 202w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/1-405x270.jpeg 405w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/1.jpeg 1280w\"\/><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fshift%2F2022%2F04%2F08%2Fwhat-does-free-public-transport-mean-in-different-cities%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Luxembourg made public transport completely free in 2018. Credit: Luxembourg Transport\" data-title=\"Share Luxembourg made public transport completely free in 2018. Credit: Luxembourg Transport on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Luxembourg made public transport completely free in 2018. Credit: Luxembourg Transport on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>Luxembourg made public transport completely free in 2018. Credit: <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/luxembourg.public.lu\/en\/living\/mobility\/public-transport.html\">Luxembourg Transport<\/a><\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1384322 size-featured_img\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/1-796x531.jpeg\" alt=\"free transport Luxembourg\" width=\"796\" height=\"531\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/1-796x531.jpeg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/1-280x187.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/1-202x135.jpeg 202w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/1-405x270.jpeg 405w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/1.jpeg 1280w\"\/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2020, <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/luxembourg.public.lu\/en\/toolbox\/tools\/videos\/freemobility.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Luxembourg<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> became the world\u2019s first (and only) country to make public transport completely free nationwide. That\u2019s a follow-up from its impressive initiative in 2018, when it offered free public transport for passengers younger than 20.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The country is aiming for a 20% increase in passengers using public transport to increase users to 50% within eight years. It also wants to increase car occupancy from 1.2 people per car to 1.5.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Economic\/infrastructural\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pros<\/span>: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The country saves money on ticketing infrastructure \u2013 ticketing apps and machines, ticketing gates, and ticket controllers. Buses can run faster as passengers can board at any gate. Further, free public transport may result in higher tourist numbers and greater cross-country travel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cons<\/span>: <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/luxembourg.public.lu\/en\/living\/mobility\/transport-gratuit.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to city officials, the decision costs 40 million euros a year. That\u2019s the amount of money generated annually by tickets. This \u201crepresents no more than 8% of the cost of running public transport.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So the country needs to meet the loss through a redistribution of funds or additional taxes in the future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Environmental\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pros<\/span>: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No research has been done yet on the environmental outcomes of Luxembourg\u2019s free public transport. However, the government hopes it will reduce the number of cars on the road.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It\u2019s also part of a goal to combat extensive traffic jams, which can correlate to up to two-hour waits.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cons:<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Usage relies on convenient access to public transport, including accessible infrastructure. If you aren\u2019t close to public transportation, you are less likely to use it unless last-mile micromobility is a compelling option.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Will free public transport get people out of their cars, considering the numbers are already pretty low? Or just those who walk or bike? I look forward to the research.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So there you have it, lots of approaches to free public transport, all different and each with their own complexities. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019re a long way from ever seeing universal free public transport, so it\u2019s important to continually track and assess the efficacy of programs that offer at least some free fares.\u00a0<\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/what-does-free-public-transport-mean-in-different-cities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;What do we mean when we say &#8216;free&#8217; public transport?\u00a0&#8220; There\u2019s a lot of attention right now on the idea of making public transport free. In the first instance, you might think it\u2019s a no-brainer. You can ride public trains, trams, buses, and ferries at no charge. That sounds too good to be true, but&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":429081,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image\/shift?filter_last=1&fit=1280,640&url=https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/04\/dennis-siqueira-TqSVEKceq3Q-unsplash.jpeg&signature=e33f693b8aa1d1876c00563b9a618eaf","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-429080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/429080","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=429080"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/429080\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/429081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=429080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=429080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=429080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}