Free Public Transport in Dunkirk, France

[Merc1107]

Article may be found here.

It's an interesting idea that the article claims is gaining further traction in Europe. I imagine the success of such an initiative is dependent on people's income and whether public transport would comprise a significant cost to the average user compared to using a car.

Would it work in Australia? I don't know. Most (if not all) cities already have concession fares that cater for students (whether primary, secondary or tertiary), pensioners etc whose incomes are lower or non-existent and are thus dependent on public transport. And for many workers, particularly those who are city-based, they already use public transport for their work commutes. Getting people out of their cars on a weekend would be tricky when service frequency is quite often substantially lower.

The article validly questions where the patronage growth arises from, too. Is it genuinely a reduction in car usage, or is there a modal switch from walking and cycling? I'd go a step further and question if that would pose a 'cost' to society in terms of declined health!

[boronia]

If you offer free transport, you will get a mode shift from all areas.

The problem is that you will need more buses, more drivers, more support infrastructure. The question is whether these cost increases will reduce demand for other road costs sufficiently to balance it.

[Merc1107]

Now Luxembourg will make all public transport free in a bid to ease congestion issues - SBS Article.

[eddy]

If you offer free transport, you will get a mode shift from all areas.

The problem is that you will need more buses, more drivers, more support infrastructure. The question is whether these cost increases will reduce demand for other road costs sufficiently to balance it.

Electric assisted bikes on safe roads are almost free while saving maintenance on safe backroads which are not built to the same standard.

[boronia]

A lot of people don't use PT, because it is not convenient to their travel requirements.

Making it free does not remove that inconvenience.

[Merc1107]

A lot of people don't use PT, because it is not convenient to their travel requirements.

Making it free does not remove that inconvenience.

Yes, that's a big issue that is seemingly ignored. The money spent making the service free could be better-utilised in service improvements that might be more likely to produce the desired effect of mode shift.

[eddy]

A lot of people don't use PT, because it is not convenient to their travel requirements.

Making it free does not remove that inconvenience.

Yes, that's a big issue that is seemingly ignored. The money spent making the service free could be better-utilised in service improvements that might be more likely to produce the desired effect of mode shift.

Denver thinks it is cheaper to subsidise electric bikes than provide public transport https://www.fastcompany.com/90797714/de ... -it-worked