Russian Pensioners Protest Abolition Of Free Public Transport - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty © 2011

Russian Pensioners Protest Abolition Of Free Public Transport - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty © 2011: "UST-ILIMSK, Russia -- Some 30 elderly residents in an eastern Russian city demonstrated today against a proposal that would abolish free public transport for pensioners, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.

Natalya Shestakova, secretary of the Communist Party Committee in the city of Ust-Ilimsk, told RFE/RL the party organized the protest in front of the city council building."

Car system doesn't work in winter -- free public transport to the rescue

The significance of the issue is not lost on Poland’s cash-strapped city halls. Warsaw Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, for one, has suggested that her transport officials should find a cheaper and more effective alternative to salting the capital’s roads.

Quite what that alternative should be remains unclear, however, as most other de-icing substances are significantly more expensive, according to Tadeusz Godlewski of the Road and Bridge Research Institute. Speaking to the Polish Press Agency, he noted that salt works well to -7° C, but quickly becomes less efficient at colder temperatures. Pricier solutions are then required, but even these are used sparingly in Europe and often mixed with more affordable substances.

...Businesses appear to be on their own, to some extent. But some cities have made magnanimous gestures to alleviate the burden on individuals at least. Kraków offered free public transport during the worst of December’s snow and heating braziers were set up at tram stops around the city, although this was little more than a stopgap measure.

Warsaw Business Journal

Campaign for free public transport spreads to Norway

Prepare to add Norway to your list of countries with an active campaign for free public transport. Watch this blog or the links below for more information to come.

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Greece - Transport workers and riders fight back against fare hikes

Οι συνδικαλιστές της ΕΘΕΛ «ακυρώνουν» τις ακυρωτικές μηχανές των εισιτηρίων τη Δευτέρα, ημέρα στάσης εργασίας των μέσων μαζικής μεταφοράς.

Όπως τόνισε στο ΣΚΑΪ και στην εκπομπή «Στο στόμα του Νίκου» ο πρόεδρος των τεχνικών του οργανισμού Απόστολος Ραφτόπουλος, «ζητήσαμε από την κυβέρνηση για τις ημέρες που έχουμε κινητοποιήσεις να μεταφέρονται δωρεάν οι επιβάτες μας ως ελάχιστο αντισταθμιστικό όφελος. Η κυβέρνηση δεν το κάνει θα το κάνουμε εμείς.» SKAI.GR

Redland People | Free bus initiative: the solution to Redland transport problems?

Redland People | Free bus initiative: the solution to Redland transport problems?: "Basically, it is a non-profit organisation which asks those who can to become members or donate but which aims to provide free travel for all. The scheme looks set to start with one simple route around the centre from Temple Meads to Broadmead and the Hippodrome but if this goes well, will expand to include more routes further afield to places like Redland.


A spokesman for Free Bus said: 'Bristol City Council subsidises the bus network for £4.7 million per year, whilst entirely free public transport in Hasselt, Belgium, costs £4.2 million per year. The cost of a fully loaded short-hop bus journey is 23p per passenger.'

When you think about the £2 or £3 fares you currently pay for a bus journey in the city and the profits they must be making you wonder why we haven't aleady pursued this Free Bus initiative."