Brussels air pollution to trigger free public transport

EURACTIV.com : "Brussels’ regional government has approved emergency rules that will allow commuters to use public transport free of charge during periods of high air pollution, Belgian media reported on Friday (23 February).

When particulate matter reaches certain levels in Brussels, travel will be free on STIB services in Brussels and the city’s bike-sharing Villo scheme for a fixed duration of time."

Nem mais um cêntimo para os transportes públicos

sol.sapo.pt: "Termino com o mais importante argumento em favor de uma mobilidade tendencialmente gratuita: democratizar a cidade e alargar a qualidade de vida. Se a mobilidade não for um custo, todos os cidadãos poderão viver a cidade e os seus equipamentos em circunstâncias de igualdade. Se matarmos o custo de deslocações das escolas para as bibliotecas, dos lares para os museus, dos bairros para os campos desportivos, estamos a promover a inclusão, a igualdade de oportunidades e uma democracia mais madura.  "

Again the big lie. #freepublictransport will reduce walking.

Can free public transport really reduce pollution? | Environment| All topics from climate change to conservation | DW | 14.02.2018: "If you can take public transport for free you may substitute the short trip you used to walk for public transport. Most of the increase in public transport ridership stems from either people who walked previously, or previous transport users who travel more frequently or perform longer trips. Only a small part of those additional trips come from people who also used the car. So we cannot say that there was a net gain in terms of reducing car traffic, or the congestion and emissions associated with it."

This lie is their best one apparently. They keep using it. Where is the data? There are plenty of studies that show that public transport leads to more active transport. 

Germany considers making public transport free to fight air pollution

The Local : "The German government is considering several measures for improving the quality of air in major cities, including making all inner city public transport free to use."

Public transport firms to draw up national list of fare dodgers

SWI swissinfo : "Anyone caught without a valid ticket on public transport in Switzerland will end up on a national register from April 2019, Swiss public radio, SRF, reports. The aim of the list is to improve the coordination of fines handed out by public transport companies. "

Oil companies are desperate to get oil demand up. Terrorizing people back to cars.

Free public transport for older adults tied to less depression

Channel NewsAsia: "Researchers found that increased eligibility for a free bus pass led to an 8 per cent increase in the use of public transportation among older people, and a 12 per cent decline in depression symptoms among those who started taking the bus when they became eligible for the programme.

Among the depression symptoms that people who took up bus travel reported as reduced were “not enjoying life,” trouble sleeping, feeling unhappy, lonely, sad, not motivated or that everything was an effort, the study team notes in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health."

Another city, Pristina, Kosovo, employs #freepublictransport against pollution

Kosovo environmentalists protest heavy pollution levels - ABC News: "Local authorities decided to ban vehicles but emergency, public cars and taxis Wednesday from driving in central Pristina, offering parking areas in the outskirts and free public transport for most of the day Wednesday. Sale of coal used for house heating has been banned indefinitely."