Ireland politician calls for #freepublictransport for children

echolive.ie/corknews 

Northside councillor Thomas Gould said it would have the triple effect of reducing emissions and congestion while giving back to the taxpayer. 

Similar schemes are in place in Dunkirk, in France, Tallinn, in Estonia, and throughout Luxembourg - which became the first country in the world to make all its public transportation free of charge this summer. Beijing gives free bus travel to people who recycle plastic bottles, while Istanbul offers travel card top-ups to commuters who recycle waste. 

Workers’ Party councillor Ted Tynan brought a motion to City Hall calling for free public transport earlier this year.

Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary -- Mayor promises #freepublictransport soon

Hódmezővásárhely will soon become the first Hungarian city with county rights to make public transport completely free of charge, one of the promises of the town’s reelected mayor, Péter Márki-Zay. 

According to Márki-Zay, the new policy has a double aim: to ameliorate (increase) the buses’ utilization rate and to exempt locals from having to pay for the transport.

https://hungarytoday.hu/hodmezovasarhely-free-public-transport-marki-zay/ 

Slovenia - Next year #freepublictransport for seniors and disabled

https://www.total-slovenia-news.com/lifestyle/4866-free-public-transport-for-old-others-from-mid-2020

STA, 29 October 2019 - The National Assembly unanimously endorsed on Tuesday legislative changes making public transportation free of charge for pensioners and persons with disabilities, among others, as of 1 July 2020.

People love #freepublictransport!

A scheme to offer a month's free public transport to commuters in South Yorkshire was inundated with applications on its opening day. Travel South Yorkshire (TSY) is giving away 500 free, 28-day bus, tram and train passes to people who usually travel to work by car. The scheme was open until 8 November, but TSY said it had already received 700 applications on Tuesday morning. TSY said it would ease congestion and pollution and help people save money. The company added it would also help people become more active and be better for the environment.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-50138792 

Malta moving toward total fare-free public transport

Free public transport, which will continue being available for young people, will be extend-ed to people 75 and over. This represents a slow transition to a radical proposition to make public transport free for all users.

https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/comment/editorial/98036/raising_the_green_bar#.XabjkugvPnE 

Transports publics gratuits, ça bouge en France !

Les deuxièmes Rencontres des villes en gratuité des transports publics, qui se sont déroulées les 10 et 11 septembre à Châteauroux (où s’est tenue la troisième Coordination nationale), sont l’occasion de faire le point sur l’avancée de cette revendication que le NPA défend depuis plusieurs années. 

Depuis 2 ans on observe une nette avancée de cette idée, déjà à l’œuvre dans une trentaine de villes. Après Aubagne, l’arrivée de transports gratuits à Dunkerque, Calais, mais aussi à l’étranger, à Tallin (Estonie) ou au Luxembourg, a crédibilisé cette solution à une échelle de masse. Les annonces d’expérimentations en Allemagne, à Paris, à Clermont-Ferrand, etc., donnent de l’écho à la gratuité des transports comme un sujet sérieux et une véritable voie alternative. Les municipalités où la gratuité existe reconnaissent qu’un retour en arrière serait un suicide politique au vu de la satisfaction populaire, comme à Châteauroux ou à Aubagne, pourtant à droite.

https://npa2009.org/actualite/services-publics/transports-publics-gratuits-ca-bouge-en-france 

Instead of punishing drivers of polluting cars, make buses fare-free

Campaigners Scott McKie, Dave Nellist and Jon Rosser with the petition to scrap a proposed Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in Coventry. (Image: Tom Davis)

Non-compliant vehicles could be charged between £8-12.50 to enter and the scheme, would would cost around £55m, could bring in between £130-£200m before being decommissioned in 2028.
Coventry council is against such a measure and submitted revised plans in June which it believes would reduce NO2 without the need for a charging zone.
Mr Nellist's petition has called for free public transport and environmentally friendly powered vehicles to solve the clean air problem.
The campaigner, who leads the city’s Socialist Party, added: "It is going to take a big modal shift from private cars into clean public transport and we are delaying that decision by going down what the Tory government think is an easy route.

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-clean-air-zone-17088954 

2 of 3 Germans want fare-free public transport

A large majority of Germans say that public transportation services should be offered free of charge, a survey commissioned by carmaker Daimler has found. In a survey conducted by pollster Forsa among 1,200 people in November 2018, 69 percent of respondents said bus and train services should be available for free

https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/two-thirds-germans-favour-free-public-transport-offers 

Free public transport for kids a "phenomenal" success in Ireland

MORE FREE PUBLIC transport travel for kids that use a Leap card could be on the way. 

The National Transport Authority has said the Kids Go Free initiative, which gives children free travel during some weeks of the summer was a “phenomenal” success this year.

https://www.thejournal.ie/nta-free-public-transport-children-4847685-Oct2019/

Hungary candidate calls for fare-free public transport

the opposition candidate Gergely Karácsony to lead #Budapest propose to taxation on luxury properties, limiting the impact of tourism and making the public transport free #Karácsony #hungary

— francesco valle (@keccov) October 13, 2019

Tallinn fare-free system results in 10% ridership gain in 2018

Compared with 2017, the public transport use of Tallinn's residents has increased by 10%, a survey carried out by pollster Turu-uuringute AS showed. It also indicated that 83% of Tallinners are satisfied with the way public transport is organised in Tallinn, while just 6.3% said they aren't happy with it.

https://news.err.ee/907933/use-of-tallinn-public-transport-increases-by-10-in-2018 

Campaign for fare-free #publictransport

Out in St.Lukes/Dillons Cross advocating for free public transport in Cork. The approach of unjust taxes that take no account of ability to pay nor ensuring a just transition away from fossil fuels must be fought against. We need to fight for system change, not climate change! pic.twitter.com/Cte6mPjreP

— Fiona Ryan (@CllrFionaRyan) October 4, 2019

Ireland Greens call for fare-free buses for students

Students would be given free access to all public transport, similar to the existing scheme for pensioners, under proposals from the Green Party.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/greens-propose-free-public-transport-scheme-for-students-1.4038918? 

Greens call for #farefree buses instead of new roads

The Green party wants to scrap the Conservatives’ £6.5bn plans for new roads and will instead use the cash to fund free bus travel for all.

https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-party-conference-free-bus-fund-public-transport-climate-change-a9138211.html 

Ireland Party calls for youth fare-free #publictransport

pic.twitter.com/nw6VbvJJfp

— Dublin Sinn Féin (@DublinSinnFein) October 2, 2019