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Free public transport

(Redirected from Fare-free public transit)

Free public transport, often called fare-free public transit or zero-fare public transport, is public transport which is fully funded by means other than collecting fares from passengers. It may be funded by national, regional or local government through taxation, and/or by commercial sponsorship by businesses. Alternatively, the concept of "free-ness" may take other forms, such as no-fare access via a card which may or may not be paid for in its entirety by the user.

In 2020, Luxembourg became the first country to provide free public transport across its entire territory.[1]

On 29 February 2020, Luxembourg became the first country in the world to make all public transport in the country (buses, trams, and trains) free to use.[2][3][4][5] On 1 October 2022, Malta made its public transport free on most routes, though unlike in Luxembourg, this applies only to residents.[6]

As some transit lines intended to operate with fares initially start service, the organisation may elect not to collect fares for an introductory period to create interest or to test operations.

Types

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City-wide systems

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Tallinn's residents voted for free public transportation on 24 March 2012. This polling place was in a historic tramway Gotha G4-61.

Several mid-size European cities and many smaller towns around the world have converted their public transportation networks to zero-fare. The city of Hasselt in Belgium is a notable example: fares were abolished in 1997 and ridership was as much as "13 times higher" by 2006.[7] Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia with more than 420,000 inhabitants, switched to free public transport in 2013 after a public vote.[8]

In the U.S. state of Washington, 14 rural transit systems have adopted zero-fare policies, either permanently or through pilots in the 2020s.[9] Fares for passengers aged 18 and younger have been free on most local and inter-city transit systems in the state since September 2022. The program was part of a larger statewide transportation package and also includes inter-city Amtrak trains operated by the state, as well as the Washington State Ferries system.[10]

Kharkiv in Ukraine is the largest city in the world with free public transport with a population of 1,420,000 residents, where free public transport for everyone has been introduced in 2022.

Since 2025, local transport in Belgrade, a city with 1,380,000 inhabitants, has been free.[11]

Local services

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In July 2017, Dubai announced it would offer free bus services for a short period of time on selected days.[12]

In the northwestern United States, some tribal governments offer free bus service on their respective reservations, including on the Muckleshoot,[13] Spokane,[14] Umatilla[15] and Yakama Indian Reservations.[16]

Emergency relief

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During natural disasters, pandemics, and other area-wide emergencies, some transit agencies offer zero-fare transport.

United States

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Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit commuter rail temporarily offered free service for those needing transportation alternatives during the 2017 Tubbs Fire and 2019 Kincade Fire.[17][18]

Some agencies, including the Central Ohio Transit Authority and King County Metro, offer free public transport during snow emergencies to reduce the number of vehicles on the street.[19][20]

COVID-19 pandemic

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, several agencies paused the collection of fares to alleviate concerns that the virus could be transmitted on surfaces, to keep travelers from coming into close contact with employees, or to allow rear door boarding on their vehicles. These agencies are mostly located in smaller cities where the farebox recovery ratio is low as they could afford to implement this policy without a major hit to revenue.[21] A study was conducted to detail the ways that fare collection during the pandemic varied geographically and demographically. During this time, 63.5% of the 263 public transit agencies studied had suspended fare collection. Geographically, the alleviation of fares was common around urban centers (such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, New York City, etc.).[22]

Statewide

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In March 2026, the Australian states of Victoria and Tasmania announced they would both be making public transport free for a limited time as an incentive not to drive due to the escalation in fuel prices resulting from the war in the Middle East.[23] In Victoria public transport is free throughout April 2026 and Tasmania has made public transport free from 30 March 2026 to the end of June 2026.[23]

Benefits

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Operational benefits

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These fare gates in New York City cost $700,000 to install,[24] one of the equipment costs that would become unnecessary with fare-free transit.

Transport operators can benefit from faster boarding and shorter dwell times, allowing faster timetabling of services. Although some of these benefits can be achieved in other ways, such as off-vehicle ticket sales and modern types of electronic fare collection, zero-fare transport avoids equipment and personnel costs.

Passenger aggression may be reduced. In 2008 bus drivers of Société des Transports Automobiles (STA) in Essonne held strikes demanding zero-fare transport for this reason. They claim that 90% of the aggression is related to refusal to pay the fare.[25]

A randomized controlled trial conducted in Santiago, Chile, found that access to fare-free public transport increased overall travel by 12%, particularly boosting off-peak travel by 23% due to a rise in both public transport and non-motorized trips.[26]

Commercial benefits

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Some zero-fare transport services are funded by private businesses, such as the merchants in a shopping mall, in the hope that doing so will increase sales or other revenue from increased foot traffic or ease of travel. Employers often operate free shuttles as a benefit to their employees, or as part of a congestion-mitigation agreement with a local government.[citation needed]

Community benefits

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Zero-fare transport can make the system more accessible and fair for low-income residents. Other benefits are the same as those attributed to public transport generally:

Research findings from Stroud & Bekhit (2023) about inclusivity gaps in FFPT research studies Research of fare-free public transport (FFTP) studies by Stroud and Bekhit (2025) reveals that only 25% of the studies significantly consider non-dominant groups of the population in their research, with extensive knowledge gaps about FFPT impacts on marginalized communities.[27]

Global benefits

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Global benefits of zero-fare transport are also the same as those attributed to public transport generally. If use of personal cars is discouraged, zero-fare public transport could mitigate the problems of global warming and oil depletion. On average, cars emit one pound of CO2 per mile driven (280 g/km).[28] Public transport helps to reduce the number of vehicles being driven which results in decreasing carbon emissions. Cars are also responsible for emitting other pollutants such as antifreeze.[28]

Countries with countrywide zero-fare transport

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  • Luxembourg was the first country to offer free public transport (trams, trains, and buses) for everyone across the entire country. Since 29 February 2020, all public transport has been free in the country, with the exception of the first class on trains.[29][30]
  • Estonia wants to become entirely zero-fare. Counties in Estonia are allowed to make public transport free. Between 2018 and 2024, buses were free of charge in 11 of Estonia's 15 counties. Public transport in Estonia's capital, Tallinn, has been free to local residents since 2013.[31][32] As of January 2024, free local transport in the counties was largely abolished, but remains available for people up to 19 years of age and those aged 63 and over.[33]
  • Malta became fare free for all residents on 1 October 2022.[34]
  • There are UK-wide provisions for free bus travel for senior citizens (60-years-old and over in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Greater London, state pension age for England).[35][36][37] The Scottish government has also implemented free bus travel across the country for people under 22-years-old since 31 January 2022, while the Scottish National Blind Person Scheme allows free rail and ferry travel for blind persons.[38][39] The senior citizens bus pass also apply to rail and rapid transit (the Tube) in Greater London, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
  • Romania has made public transportation including buses, subways and inter-country trains free for all pre-university students. However university students only have the option for a 50% discount on individual inter-country train tickets or inter-city subscriptions.[40]
  • In the Netherlands, students with Dutch citizenship get free public transportation country-wide in trains, trams, buses and metro. Students who are studying at universities of applied sciences and universities need to finish their degree ten years after starting it or they will need to pay back the amount of money.[41][42]
  • Throughout Spain, from 1 September 2022 to 30 June 2025, as a way to reduce gas prices for trucks after the Russian war in Ukraine, all multi-trip ticket train journeys on commuter services and medium-distance routes (less than 300 kilometres (190 mi)) were made free of charge, on the condition that the individual uses it at least an average of once a week.[43]
  • Since March 2024, the Hungarian national railway company MÁV does not charge those of ages 65 and over and 14 and under for transportation.[44] Buses of the company Volánbusz can also be used free of charge from people of these same age ranges.[45]
  • In the Republic of Ireland public transportation for citizens over the age 66 is free. People with disabilities and carers aged under 66 may also be eligible for free travel[46]

List of towns and cities with area-wide zero-fare transport

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Europe

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Town/City Population Operator First year Duration Notes
Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland 5,149,139 State 1967 Since 1967 Everyone aged 66 and over, living permanently in Ireland gets access to free travel on all public transportation in Ireland[46]
United Kingdom ManchesterBee Network1974Since 20022 Free bus routes around the City Centre, free to use since 2002
Denmark Morsø19,734Morsø Municipality2009Since 2009Free public bus transportation for everyone on the busses within the municipality; It was decided, because mostly school students used busses which the municipality covered
Denmark Læsø1,759Læsø MunicipalityFree electric bus, with a small fee if you bring a bicycle or stroller[47]
Denmark Ærø5,948Ærø MunicipalityFree wifi, you can bring your bike, dogs are allowed[48]
Portugal Cascais206,479Mobi Cascais2020Since 2 January 2020Free public bus transportation for residents, students and workers registered in the Municipality of Cascais. Cascais was the first in Portugal to implement the measure and is the fourth-largest city of the country.
France Cahors20,447Raynal Voyages2019Since 2 November 2019[49]
Netherlands NetherlandsGovernment1991Since 1991Free public transport for students Studentenreisproduct or OV-studentenkaart in the whole Netherlands. Students can choose for free transport on weekdays and 40% discount in the weekends, or vice versa.
Russia Voronezh, Voronezh Oblast1,032,382Municipality20032003–2013Free buses run every 30 min. (designated by the letter Н)[50]
Russia Skolkovo, MoscowN/AODAS Skolkovo + Mosgortrans2012Since openingLocal buses are free, include to railway station (from 2019, weekdays, delayed), longer routes are charged unless they ride via Auchan or Vegas
Russia Miass, Chelyabinsk Oblast151,387Municipality1991Until 2002[51]Free trolleybuses and buses
Gibraltar Gibraltar29,500State2011Since May 2011Only for residents and workers. Tourists have to pay.
Spain Manises30,478Municipality[52]
Spain Marbella150,000Municipality2019Since 2019Only for enrolled citizens.[53]
Slovenia Nova Gorica31,0002006Since April 2006
Bulgaria Samokov27,0002006Since 2006
Bulgaria Stamboliyski12,000Municipality2019Since 2019
Norway Stavanger146,011Municipality2023Since 2023
Belgium Hasselt72,000De Lijn1997Since 1 July 19971,300% ridership increase 1996–2006. In 2013, Hasselt stopped free bus service for adults; riders under 19 still travel for free.
Belgium Duffel17,385De LijnOnly valid for one ride
Belgium Ingelmunster10,928De Lijn2017Since 2017Free public transport was offered when the construction of a new bridge made the connection between the two sides of the town impossible.
Belgium Mons92,000TEC Hainaut19991999-20162 intramuros lines were free
Belgium Namur115,000TEC Namur-Luxembourg2024Since 20241 circle route in city centre
West Midlands2,953,816 All bus operators in the West Midlands 2024 9–13 December 2024 Free bus travel in the West Midlands bus boundary between 7pm and 3am.[54]
Sweden Avesta Municipality21,000Dalatrafik2012[55]Until 2021.Ended due to increased operating costs.
Sweden Vellinge37,700Skånetrafiken2020since 2020Only for residents aged 70 or more within the confines of the county, and young adults aged 16 - 19 who may travel on Skånetrafiken and Öresundstågen services in Skåne [56][57]
Sweden Kiruna18,0902011From 2011 to 2012–12[58]
Sweden Övertorneå2,00070 km of free rides on local buses in this rural municipality [citation needed]
Poland Bełchatów56,973Miejski Zakład Komunikacji Sp. z o.o.2015Since 28 May 2015Unconditionally free for all users.
Poland Żory62,6252014Since 1 May 2014Unconditionally free for all users.
Poland Lubin72,9512014Since 1 September 2014Unconditionally free for all users.
Poland Olkusz36,1222013Between 1 September 2013 and 31 December 2014For car owners registered in this municipality only.
Poland Ostrołęka52,3372017Since 28 October 2017Unconditionally free for all users.
Poland Starachowice 43,883 2022 Since 1 April 2022 For residents and tax payers in this municipality (and their minor family members.[59]
Romania Lugoj37,7002013Starting 1 July 2013[60]
Romania Cluj-Napoca411,3792021Starting 18 June 2021Free transportation on tram and bus lines every Friday[61]
Romania Ploiești201,226TCE S.A.2014Starting 31 March 2014The benefits are limited to city residents with an income under 3,000 RON per month (about €670).[62]
Romania Arad145,078CTP Arad S.A.2023Starting 7 July 2023Free transportation on tram and bus lines every Friday.[63]
Greece Ilioupoli78,153MunicipalityFree transportation to all, but only local buses, for specifically only local municipality buses.[64]
Iceland Akureyri, Iceland18,8032007Since 1 January 2007[65]
Estonia Tallinn435,2452013Since 1 January 2013Tallinn is currently the largest city offering free public transport for its residents. Regional buses are excluded from the scheme. Elron commuter trains are also free inside the city limits.[66] Tallinn is also the first capital with free public transport for its residents.
Estonia Keila9,8732013Since February 2013
Estonia Türi6,174[67]
Germany Lübben14,500Has been stoppedInfluenced by Hasselt
Germany Kelheim122,258VLK2021Since November 2021Free buses since November 2021 within Kelheim County
Germany Templin16,500Has been stopped
Germany Augsburg295,135SWA2020Since 1 January 2020Free public transport within a zone downtown called "City-Zone"
Germany Erlangen116,562ESTW2024Since 1 January 2024Free use of all buses in the inner city for everybody
Germany Monheim am Rhein and Langenfeld (Rheinland)46,072 + 60,926Free use of all buses and the lightrail lines S6 and S68 in the city areas of Monheim am Rhein, Langenfeld (Rheinland) and Düsseldorf-Hellerhof, for residents of Monheim am Rhein only
Slovakia Senec19,900MAD Senec2013Since 1 November 2013Since 1 April 2018 city transport has two bus lines. Temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic until 1 September.[68]
France Aubagne42,900 (100,000 in the area concerned)2009Since 15 May 2009The Aubagne tramway is considered to be the first completely fare-free tram system in the world.[69]
France Bar-le-Duc15,7002008Since 1 September 2008
France Boulogne-Billancourt110,0001992Since 1992
France Castres62,5002008Since October 2008
France Châteauroux47,1272001Since 2001
France Colomiers28,5381971Since 1971The first area of France to offer zero-fare public transport which is still in operation at present
France Compiègne40,0281975Since 1975[70]
France Dunkirk91,000Municipality2015: free weekend service, fall 2018: full service[71][72]
France Figeac9,9002003Since 2003–2009
France Issoudun13,5001989Since 1989Has free in the name of the service (Transport Issoudun Gratuit). Works on certain days of the week in the afternoons only.
France Libourne23,0002009Since 1 January 2009 for under 18s
Since 28 August 2010 for everyone
France Manosque22,2002010since 1 January 2010
France Niort122 000Communauté d'agglomération du Niortais2017Since 1 September 2017
France Vitré15,3132001Since spring 2001First French urban agglomeration to do so.
Italy Catania315,000Amt, Metropolitana di Catania, Università degli Studi di Catania2018Since 10 April 2018[73]Free metro and bus lines to all local university students
Czech Republic Třeboň8,700ČSAD Jindřichův Hradec a. s.2002Between 2002–2002 and 2007–2008Under Mayor Jiří Houdek (KDU-ČSL), city transport has only one bus line (No 340300), influenced by US school buses
Czech Republic Prague1,285,000Many operators (first of all Dopravní podnik hl. m. Prahy)2002Between 2002 and 2008–2015 (ca) and 25 August 2002, during the Vltava flood and flooding of the Prague metro systemAlso always during time of the smog or other emergency (used rarely – 1996–1997 for 2 day, 1992–1993 for 4 days).[74][75]
Czech Republic Hořovice6,800Probo Trans Beroun s. r. o.2008Since March 2008City transport has only one bus line (no. 210009 alias C09 or C9)
Czech Republic Valašské Meziříčí27,300ČSAD Vsetín a. s.2009Between 14 June 2009 and 14 July 2009, again since September 2017[76][77]City transport has five bus lines
Czech Republic Přelouč9,000Veolia Transport Východní Čechy a. s.2009Between 1 December 2009 and 6 March 2010Initial price at the newly established first city bus line (no. 665101)
Czech Republic Frýdek-Místek58,200ČSAD Frýdek-Místek a. s.2011Since 27 March 2011Only 365-day chip coupon (however the chip card costs 299 Kč and prolongation 1 Kč) and user must to not be a debtor toward the city. Number of passengers has increased from 3.8 million in 2010 to 5.7 million in 2013. Since 2014, it is possible to travel free on regional bus lines to next 18 villages and towns. Population in the serviced area is 100,000. Chip card for free public transport has 25,000 passengers.
Czech Republic Strakonice22,900ČSAD STTRANS a. s.2018Since 1 January 2018In 2017, the city bus transport was free for senior citizens, children and students up to 26 years; since 2018, buses are free for all, but only in the city zone (sections outside the city are still paid).[78][79]
Czech Republic Lovosice8,700BusLine a. s., renamed to TD BUS a.s.2018Since 28 January 2018[80]The only bus line no. 558001 started 10 years ago, 2008-01-28
Czech Republic Litoměřice24,000BusLine a. s., renamed to TD BUS a.s.2018Since 1 May 2018[81]Two bus lines
Czech Republic Říčany12,400ČSAD Benešov a. s. (ICOM group)2018Since 3 September 2018[82]3 intervallic lines (yellow, red and blue) and 3 school lines (Š1, Š2, Š3), licence numbers 289001–289006, in working days only. Previous lines of Prague Integrated Transport remain paid.
Czech Republic Kolín33,289Okresní autobusová doprava Kolín, s.r.o.2023Since 1 January 2023[83]
Faroe Islands Tórshavn20,000Tórshavn City CouncilSix different bus lines[84]
Serbia Jagodina76,712City2019Since January 2019Also includes 52 villages and settlements around Jagodina that are connected with the city.[85]
Ukraine Kryvyi Rih 603 904 Municipality 2022 Including trams, metrotram, and trolleybus[86]
Ukraine Kharkiv 1,421,125 Municipality 2022 Including trams, metro, and trolleybus[87]
Serbia Belgrade1,197,714City2025Since 1 January 2025Free transport; includes all forms of public transport within the Belgrade Metropolitan Area.[88][89]

Asia

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Town/City Population Operator Begin operation Duration Notes
Russia Cheremushki, Khakassia, Russia9,000trams are serviced by Dam's staffzero fare is official to anybody (de jure service line because the taxes would be higher than revenues)
Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia10,770,487TransJakarta2016; 10 years agoThree free city tour buses and all Mikrotrans feeder routes
Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia1,790,000SKS Bus31 August 2012; 13 years agoGo KL City Bus
India New Delhi, India20,000,000 (concerned for 9,000,000 women)State Government2019free bus services for women
India Tamil Nadu, India72,147,030 (concerned for 36,009,055 women)State Government2021free metro and bus services for women[90]
Israel Tel Aviv District, Israel1,350,000Na'im Busofash22 November 2019Free weekend public transportation array that exists in 6 authorities in Gush Dan – Givatayim, Kiryat Ono, Ramat HaSharon, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Yehud-Monosson and Shoham.
Israel Tiberias, Israel41,300Tiberias city council2019one bus line that goes on Saturdays
South Korea Hwaseong, South Korea934,441Hwaseong city2020Fare-free bus service for the children, youth, and elderly
Thailand Bangkok, Thailand8,249,000severalIn some bus lines in older unair-conditioned bus (fare prices are also about age/equipment of bus). Also time and again for new public metro tracks for several months.
Turkey Ovacık, Turkey6,998Ovacık municipality2014All municipality-operated buses are free[91]
Turkey Tunceli, Turkey38,429Tunceli municipality2019Free in three neighbourhoods that doesn't have privately operated public bus[91]

Americas

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Brazil

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A bus with free public transport in Vargem Grande Paulista, Brazil
Town/City Population Operator First year Duration Notes
Agudos, SP36,700local government2011since 2011[92][93][94]
Ivaiporã, PR31,812local government2011since 2011[92][93][94]
Porto Real, RJ16,574local government2011since 2011[92][93]
Potirendaba, SP15,449local government1998since 1998[95]
Paulínia, SP86,800local government2013since 2013[96]
Maricá, RJ146,549Empresa Pública de Transportes – EPT2014since 2014[97]
Muzambinho, MG21,975local government2011since 2011[98]
Pitanga, PR32,645local government2012since 2012[99]
Silva Jardim, RJ21,307local government2014since 2014-02-15[100]
Vargem Grande Paulista, SP48,7202019since 2019[101]

Canada

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Town/City Population Operator First Year Duration Notes
Candiac, Quebec 21,000 2014
Canmore, Alberta 13,000 ROAM 2019 [102]
Cold Lake, Alberta 15,000 Cold Lake Transit [103]
La Prairie, Quebec 23,000 2014
Mont Tremblant, Quebec 10,000 Mont-Tremblant Public Transit 2019 [104]
Orangeville, Ontario 30,700 Orangeville Transit 2023 [105]
Sainte-Julie, Quebec 30,000 2014
Saint-Philippe, Quebec 5,500 2014

United States

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Town/City Population Service/operator First year Duration Notes
Albuquerque, New Mexico564,559ABQ RIDE2022[106]
Alexandria, Virginia159,467DASH (bus)2021[107]
Athens, Georgia126,913Athens Transit2021[108]
Athens, Ohio 23,849 Athens Public Transit through April 2027[109]
Avon, Colorado6,115Avon/Beaver Creek Transit2021[110]
Blacksburg, Virginia44,826Blacksburg Transit2020[111].since 2020BT halted the collection of fares in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the Blacksburg Town Council voted unanimously to stick with the status quo and permanently approved a fare-free[112] system[113].
Boone, North Carolina17,122AppalCart[114]1981since 1981combination of funding from the town, Appalachian State University, Watauga County, and state and federal agencies.
Boston, Massachusetts675,647several MBTA key bus routes (23, 28, and 29)20212021 until February 28, 2026[needs update]
Breckenridge, Colorado4,901Free Ride Transit System1997
Butler County, Ohio 390,357 Butler County Regional Transit Authority [115]
Cache Valley, UtahCache Valley Transit District2000since 2000
Canby, Oregon15,829Canby Area Transit
Cape Cod, Massachusetts Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority 2025 since 2025 [116]
Chadron, Nebraska5,488City of Chadron
Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina70,000+Chapel Hill Transit2002since 2002operated by the Town of Chapel Hill to serve Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and UNC-Chapel Hill; supported by taxpayers and University fee-payers
Clallam County, Washington77,805Clallam Transit2024one-year pilot[needs update]Does not apply to long-distance routes and Hurricane Ridge shuttle[9]
Clemson, South Carolina11,939Clemson Area Transitpartnership between Clemson University and surrounding communities
Clovis, California 120,124 2025 since 2025 New service launched in late 2025[117]
Columbia, Missouri 126,254 Go COMO 2020 since 2020 [118]
Commerce, California41,000City of Commerce Municipal Bus Lines1962since 1962all transportation services are free of charge[119]
Coral Gables, Florida42,871
Corvallis, Oregon54,462Corvallis Transit System2011since February 2011[120]
Dayton, Ohio137,644Flyer Shuttle Bus operated by the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority2018since 2018Shuttle connects downtown Dayton and University of Dayton[121]
Detroit, Michigan639,000Q Line operated by the Detroit Transport Authority2017since 2017Connecting northern suburbs to central Detroit[122]
Detroit, Michigan 639,000 Detroit People Mover 2024 since 2024 Sponsored pilot project.
Ellensburg, Washington20,326Central Transit[9]
El Paso County, Texas 865,657 El Paso Transportation Authority 2025 until 2026 [123]
Fairfax, Virginia24,276CUE Bus2020Until June 30, 2026[124] CUE stopped collecting fares in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has since continued operating zero-fare. Funded in part by the Fairfax, Virginia and a grant from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation.
Fort Collins, Colorado169,810Transfort2020Transfort stopped collecting fares in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has since continued operating zero-fare. As of January 2023, the city is considering keeping Transfort fare-free permanently.[125]
Frederick County, Maryland 302,883 TransIT 2026 since 2026
Gallatin County, Montana 118,960 Streamline [126]
Grant County, WashingtonGrant Transit Authority2020Became permanently fare-free in 2022.[127]
Island County, Washington81,054Island Transit1987since 1987
Hawaii County, Hawaii206,315Hele-On Bus2021until the end of 2025[needs update][128]
Iowa City, Iowa 74,828 Iowa City Transit 2023 through 2026 [129]
Jefferson County, WashingtonJefferson Transit2024since January 2024[130]
Kansas City, Missouri301,500RideKC buses and KC Streetcar20192019–2023The first large U.S. city to implement a universal, systemwide fare-free scheme after a unanimous City Council vote to make RideKC buses Zero Fare through 2023. The bus system previously cost travelers $1.50 per ride or $50 for a monthly pass, while the KC Streetcar has been fare free since it began service in 2016.[131]
Ketchum/Sun Valley, Idaho3,003Mountain Rides
Kootenai County, IdahoCitylink[13][132]
Laramie, Wyoming 31,407 University of Wyoming Transit System [133]
Las Cruces, New Mexico 111,385 RoadRUNNER Transit 2022 since 2022 [134][135]
Lawrence, Kansas 94,934 Lawrence Transit 2023 since 2023 [136]
Lebanon, New Hampshire13,151Advance Transitcombination of state and federal funding and from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and Dartmouth College. Also serves Hanover and White River Junction, Vermont
Logan, Utah49,534Cache Valley Transit District1992since 1992
Macomb, Illinois20,000Go West Transit2006since 2006
Milwaukee, Wisconsin560,000Transdev2018since 2018Hop streetcar services provided free through various sponsorships starting in 2018
Mammoth Lakes, California8,234Eastern Sierra Transit Authority
Marion, Indiana29,948Marion Area Transit System2008since 2008
Martin County, Florida 158,431 Martin County Public Transit 2025 since 2025 [137]
Mason County, Washington61,019Mason Transit Authority1992[9]Fares charged on intra-county routes
Memphis, Tennessee 633,104 Memphis Area Transit Authority 2025 since 2025 At least until June 2026[138]
Missoula, Montana69,122Missoula Urban Transportation District
Montgomery County, Maryland 1,082,273 Ride On 2019 2019: under 18,[139] July 2025: all riders[140]
Moscow, Idaho25,146SMART Transit[141]
Mountain View, California81,500Google and City of Mountain ViewMountain View Community Shuttle, electric bus service 10AM to 6PM daily
Muckleshoot Indian Reservation, WashingtonMuckleshoot Indian Tribe[13]
New York City, New York 16,692,900[142] MTA Regional Bus Operations – Q70 bus 2022 since May 2022[143] The Q70 bus route has been permanently fare-free since May 2022.[143] The Q4, B60, Bx18, M116 and S46/96 temporarily became fare-free 24 September 2023,[144] but fares were reinstated 31 August 2024.[145]
New York City, New York 16,692,900[142] Roosevelt Island Red Bus 2014 since April 2014[146]
New York City, New York16,692,900[142]Staten Island Ferry (NYCDOT)1997since July 1997[147]
Norman, Oklahoma 128,026 EMBARK 2023 since 2023 [148]
Olympia/Thurston County, Washington252,264Intercity Transit20202020–20275-year pilot, later extended to 2027[9]
Oxford, Mississippi 25,416 Oxford-University Transit [149]
Park City, Utah8,300Park City Transit, High Valley TransitAlso serves Snyderville Basin
Placer County, California 404,739 Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit 2019 since 2019 through December 2027[150]
Provo, Utah/Orem, Utah215,175Utah Transit Authority2018since 2018Utah Valley Express (UVx) Bus-Rapid Transit Line only. UVX fare has been covered by a Federal Highway Administration Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement grant through 2021.[151]
Radford, Virginia 16,070 Radford Transit [152]
Richmond, Virginia 226,610 Greater Richmond Transit Company 2020 through 2026 [153]
Rome, Georgia37,746Rome Transit Department (RTD)2021until 29 December 2023 (planned)[needs update]Beginning on 4 October 2021, the City of Rome Transit Department began offering free Fixed-Route Transit Service in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fare adjustment is currently set to expire on 29 December 2023.
Sandy, Oregon9,570Sandy Area Metro2000since 2000
Spokane Indian Reservation, WashingtonSpokane Tribe of Indians[14]
Stanford, California13,809Stanford Marguerite Shuttle
Starkville, Mississippi23,888Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit
Tacoma, Washington216,279Sound Transit T Line20032023Eliminated after extension
Tampa, Florida380,000TECO Line Streetcar2018Service with fares started in 2002, free since 2018.
Terre Haute, Indiana 58,389 Terre Haute Transit 2025 since 2025 [154]
Tucson, Arizona1,043,433Sun Tran2020Fare free for the entire Tucson Metropolitan Area since Spring 2020. Originally a pandemic-era temporary measure, it is now permanent.[155][156]
Umatilla Indian Reservation, OregonConfederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation[15]
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan120,000University of Michigan Transit Services
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota51,853U of M Transitway1992since 1992
Vail, Colorado4,589over 20 hours of service every day during winter
Vero Beach, Florida15,220GoLinefree 14-route public transit system serves 700,000 annual riders
Walla Walla, Washington50,600Valley Transit1981Until 2026[157]
Westchester County1,004,457[158]Bee-Line Bus System2022June 1 through September 5 (Labor Day)[159]
Wilmington, Vermont2,225Deerfield Valley Transit Association1996since 1996free 13-route public transit system operated by Southeast Vermont Transit serving 200,000 riders annually and providing commuter bus service between Bennington and Brattleboro. Operates as "the MOOver".
Wilsonville, Oregon19,509South Metro Area Regional Transit
Worcester, Massachusetts 206,518 Worcester Regional Transit Authority 2020 since 2020 All buses fare-free
Yakama Indian Reservation, WashingtonConfederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation[16]
Yamhill County, Oregon 107,722 Yamhill County Transit 2020 since 2020 [160][161]
Irvine, California 307,670 City of Irvine 2024 since 2024 operated by local municipal government, beginning as a one-year pilot[162]

Oceania

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Australia

edit
Town/City Population Service/operator First year Duration Notes
South Australia Adelaide CBD, South Australia 18,202 Adelaide Metro Four bus routes that run a loop around the CBD and neighbouring North Adelaide are free, as well as all trams between the Adelaide Entertainment Centre and South Terrace.[163]
Northern Territory Alice Springs, Northern Territory 25,912 CDC Northern Territory 2025 since 2025 [164]
Northern Territory Darwin, Northern Territory 139,902 CDC Northern Territory 2025 since 2025 [164]
Victoria (state) Docklands, Victoria 15,495 Yarra Trams 2015 since 2014 All trams in the suburb are within the tram network's Free Tram Zone.[165]
Victoria (state) Melbourne CBD, Victoria 54,941 Yarra Trams 2015 since 2015 All trams in the suburb north of the Yarra River are within the tram network's Free Tram Zone.[165]
Western Australia Perth CBD, Western Australia 13,670 Transperth Free travel on buses and on trains between City West, Elizabeth Quay, and Claisebrook.[166]

Perception and analysis

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Fare-free transit has been repeatedly demonstrated to increase ridership—especially during non-peak travel periods—and customer satisfaction.[167] Several analyses[168][169][170] have shown ridership increased by as much as 15% overall and about 45% during the off-peak periods. The effects on public transport operators included schedule adherence problems because of the increased ridership and more complaints about rowdiness from younger passengers, though there is a reduction in altercations relating to fare collection.[168] When the University of California, Los Angeles covered fares for the university community, ridership increased by 56% in the first year and solo driving fell by 20%.[170]

In the United States, mass transit systems that collect fares are only expected to generate about 10% of the annual revenue themselves, with the remainder covered by either public or private investment and advertisements.[131] Therefore, politicians and social-justice advocacy groups, such as the Swedish network Planka.nu, see zero-fare public transport as a low-cost, high-impact approach to reducing economic inequality.[171] It has also been argued that transportation to and from work is essential to the employer in the managing of work hours, so financing of public transportation should fall to employers rather than private individuals or public funds.[172]

See also

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Further reading

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References

edit
  1. ↑ "Luxembourg becomes first country with free public transport". France 24. Luxembourg. 29 February 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  2. ↑ "Luxembourg makes public transport free". Deutsche Welle (DW). 29 February 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  3. ↑ Kirby, Paul (29 February 2020). "Free transport in Luxembourg, but what's the cost?". BBC News. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  4. ↑ Abnett, Kate (29 February 2020). "Luxembourg becomes first country to make public transport free". Reuters. Luxembourg. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  5. ↑ Calder, Simon (29 February 2020). "'Like the first step on the moon': Luxembourg makes history as first country with free public transport". The Independent. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  6. ↑ "Malta makes most public transport free". cities-today.com. 6 October 2022.
  7. ↑ '10 jaar gratis openbaar vervoer' (tr. 10 years of free public transport) Archived 2008-10-20 at the Wayback Machine (in Dutch) on the city's official website
  8. ↑ Shearlaw, Maeve (11 October 2016). "The Tallinn experiment: what happens when a city makes public transport free?". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Beekman, Daniel (13 November 2023). "Clallam Transit will be latest of many WA systems to go fare-free". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  10. ↑ Kroman, David (1 September 2022). "Free transit starts today for most youths across WA". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  11. ↑ "Serbia's capital Belgrade to make public transport free". 18 December 2024.
  12. ↑ "Dubai RTA launches free bus service to cover partial metro closure". Khaleejtimes.com.
  13. 1 2 3 "About". Tribaltransit.com.
  14. 1 2 "TRANSIT SERVICES – Spokane Tribe of Indians". Spokanetribe.com.
  15. 1 2 "CTUIR Public Transit | Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation". Indigenousgov.hks.harvard.edu. 2010.
  16. 1 2 "Yakama Indian Nation". Npainh.org. 9 February 2016.
  17. ↑ Houston, Will (30 October 2019). "SMART offers free rides as full service returns". Marin Independent Journal. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  18. ↑ "Smart Train Service Running On Limited Schedule Wednesday Through Nov. 6". SFGate. Bay City News Service. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  19. ↑ "COTA suspends fares amid Level 2 Snow Emergency in Franklin County". 10tv.com. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  20. ↑ Gutman, David (28 April 2019). "You can ride King County Metro buses for free during the next snow emergency". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  21. ↑ "Is Free Transit Safer? As Ridership Drops, Some Agencies Cut Fares". Bloomberg.com. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  22. ↑ Goldberg, Dori. "The New Geography of Fare-Free Public Transport: Examining the Suspension of Fares in the United States During COVID-19." Brussels: Master in Urban Studies (ULB/VUB) (2021).
  23. 1 2 Phillips, Aleks (29 March 2026). "Two Australian states offer free public transport as war pushes up fuel prices". BBC News. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
  24. ↑ Ley, Ana (30 January 2024). "New Subway Fare Gates and Platform Barriers Fail to Impress New Yorkers". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  25. ↑ "Franse chauffeurs voor gratis buskaartje" [French drivers for free bus ticket]. Volkskrant.nl (in Dutch). 10 June 2008.
  26. ↑ Bull, Owen; Muñoz, Juan Carlos; Silva, Hugo E. (January 2021). "The impact of fare-free public transport on travel behavior: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial". Regional Science and Urban Economics. 86 103616. Bibcode:2021RSUE...86j3616B. doi:10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2020.103616.
  27. ↑ Štraub, Daniel; Hess, Daniel Baldwin (May 2025). "Re-examining fare-free public transport for greater inclusivity". Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives. 31 101454. Bibcode:2025TrRIP..3101454S. doi:10.1016/j.trip.2025.101454.
  28. 1 2 "5 Environmental Benefits of Sustainable Transportation". Transportation. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  29. ↑ "Getting Around in Luxembourg City". Luxembourg-city.com. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  30. ↑ "Luxembourg to become first country in world to make public transport free". The Independent. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  31. ↑ "Free public transport in Estonia". The Economist. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  32. ↑ "Estonia to Become the World's First Free Public Transport Nation". Pop-Up City. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  33. ↑ Karin Koppel (26 September 2023). "Ratas: Abolishing free public transport a huge mistake". ERR. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  34. ↑ "Live blog: Budget 2022 as it happens". Times of Malta. 11 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  35. ↑ "Over-60s to keep free bus pass privileges in Scotland". The Scotsman. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  36. ↑ "Apply for an older person's bus pass". GOV.UK. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  37. ↑ "Free and concessionary bus and rail travel | nidirect". Nidirect.gov.uk. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  38. ↑ Diamond, Claire (31 January 2022). "Free bus travel for under-22s in Scotland begins". BBC News. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  39. ↑ "Information on other concessionary travel and discounted schemes". Transport.gov.scot. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  40. ↑ "Elevii din România vor avea transport gratuit" [Students from Romania will have free transport]. Edu.ro (in Romanian). Romania: Ministerul Educației Naționale. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  41. ↑ "Student Travel Product (Student OV) | NS". Dutch Railways. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  42. ↑ "Studentenreisproduct". Dienst uitvoering onderwij (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  43. ↑ Gadhavi, Jasmine (15 July 2022). "Spain announces free rail journeys from September until the end of the year". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  44. ↑ "Key changes in Hungarian public transport summarised in 10 points - Daily News Hungary". 10 January 2024.
  45. ↑ "Domestic fares - Travel information". VOLÁNBUSZ. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  46. 1 2 Citizensinformation.ie. "Free travel in Ireland". Citizensinformation.ie. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  47. ↑ "Læsø pakkerejser". Laesoe-booking.dk.
  48. ↑ "Kom rundt på Ærø med den gratis bus". Visitaeroe.dk.
  49. ↑ Lot : les bus de Cahors deviennent gratuits (tr. Lot: Cahors buses become free). By Stéphanie Bousquet. 5 Nov 2019. By France 3 Occitanie.
  50. ↑ "Народные маршруты автобусов (бесплатный проезд) – Транспорт города Воронежа. Маршруты, Расписания. Авто, Метро, Трамвай, Троллейбус, Автобусы, Поезда, Авиатранспорт, Водный транспорт, Такси, Пробки, Форумы. Объявления. Предприятия" [Popular bus routes (free travel) - Transport of the city of Voronezh. Routes, Schedules. Auto, Metro, Tram, Trolleybus, Buses, Trains, Air transport, Water transport, Taxi, Traffic jams, Forums. Ads. Enterprises]. Transport.mirvoronezha.ru.
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  52. ↑ (Manises) municipal website (in Spanish) www.lasprovincias.es retrieved 2009-05-08
  53. ↑ "Tarjeta de Movilidad para uso gratuito del servicio de autobús urbano". Ayuntamiento de Marbella. 7 February 2019.
  54. ↑ "Free Bus Travel". Tfwm.org.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  55. ↑ Avesta, Sweden retrieved 2016-06-17
  56. ↑ "Kollektivtrafik | Vellinge kommun". Vellinge.se. 4 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  57. ↑ "Res- och busskort | Vellinge kommun". Vellinge.se. 25 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  58. ↑ Kiruna municipality website Archived 2013-01-10 at the Wayback Machine (in Swedish) retrieved 2012-07-09
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  60. ↑ HotNews.ro – Premiera in Romania: Municipiul Lugoj va avea transport in comun gratuit (tr. Premiere in Romania: Lugoj will have free public transport), www.hotnews.ro
  61. ↑ "Vinerea Verde: Transport public gratuit în fiecare zi de vineri • Cluj-Napoca".
  62. ↑ "Transport public GRATUIT pentru ploieşteni, până în 2015" [FREE public transport for Ploiesti residents, until 2015]. 12 March 2014.
  63. ↑ "VINEREA VERDE: de luna aceasta, transportul public în municipiu este gratuit, în fiecare vineri" [GREEN FRIDAY: effective this month, municipal public transport is free every friday]. 3 July 2023.
  64. ↑ "ilioupoli.gr municipality-transportation". Archived from the original on 19 July 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2014.
  65. ↑ "City bus – Free of charge". Visitakureyri.is. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  66. ↑ "Tallinlase tasuta sõit Elron rongides" [Free Tallinn ride on Elron trains] (in Estonian). Tallinn City Government. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  67. ↑ "Türi linna tasuta bussiliin" [Free bus line to Türi]. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  68. ↑ a.s., Lomtec.com. "Cestovný poriadok MHD Senec platný od 15.12.2019 – Informačný portál mesta Senec" [Public transport timetable Senec valid from 15.12.2019 - Information portal of Senec]. Senec.sk.[dead link]
  69. ↑ "Aubagne aura le premier tramway au monde entièrement gratuit!" [Aubagne will have the world's first tram completely free!]. 6 July 2011.
  70. ↑ (in French)
  71. ↑ Bliss, Laura (20 December 2017). "The French City That Shocked Citizens By Making Transit Free". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  72. ↑ Boyer King, Emilie (9 November 2017). "Want a free ride? French cities opt for free public transport – France 24". France 24. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  73. ↑ Tartaglia, Andrea (5 October 2018). "Metro e bus gratis per gli studenti dell'Università di Catania" [Free metro and bus for students of the University of Catania]. Mobilita Catania.
  74. ↑ Smogový regulační systém Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine(tr. Smog control system), ENVIS Praha/ envis.praha-mesto.cz
  75. ↑ Tarif PID Archived 2010-03-09 at the Wayback Machine, XIV., 3.
  76. ↑ Viktor Chrást: Valašské Meziříčí chystá MHD zdarma, zaplatí ji pokuty za rychlou jízdu (tr. Valašské Meziříčí is preparing free public transport, it will pay fines for fast driving), iDnes.cz, 2017-04-19
  77. ↑ Ve Valašském Meziříčí bude městská hromadná doprava zdarma a pro všechny Archived 29 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine (tr.In Valašské Meziříčí, public transport will be free and for everyone), Valašské Meziříčí, 2017-04-13
  78. ↑ Alena Šrámková: MHD zadarmo! Od nového roku (tr. Free public transport! Since the new year), Strakonický deník, 2017-11-19
  79. ↑ Radek Štěpánek: Strakonice mají MHD zdarma pro všechny. Je to populismus, říká opozice (tr.Strakonice has free public transport for everyone. It's populism, the opposition says), iDnes.cz, 12. 1. 2018
  80. ↑ Pavel Křivohlavý: Lovosice zavedly MHD zdarma, chtějí tím snížit počet aut ve městě (tr. Lovosice has introduced free public transport, so they want to reduce the number of cars in the city), iDnes.cz, 2018-01-29
  81. ↑ Litoměřice budou mít MHD zdarma, stejně jako sousední Lovosice (tr. Litoměřice will have free public transport, as will neighboring Lovosice), iDnes.cz, 2. 3. 2018
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  165. 1 2 "Public transport | City of Melbourne". City of Melbourne. Retrieved 15 February 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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  167. ↑ D'Alessandro, Antonio. "Fare-Free Transit – A Strategy for Sustainable Transportation" (PDF). Gouvernement du Québec. Government of Quebec. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  168. 1 2 Studenmund, A.H.; Connor, David (July 1982). "The free-fare transit experiments". Transportation Research Part A: General. 16 (4): 261–269. doi:10.1016/0191-2607(82)90053-X.
  169. ↑ Doxsey, L.B.; Spear, B.D. (1981). "Free-Fare Transit: Some Empirical Findings" (PDF). Transportation Research Record (799): 47–49.
  170. 1 2 Brown, Jeffrey; Hess, Daniel Baldwin; Shoup, Donald (September 2003). "Fare-Free Public Transit at Universities: An Evaluation". Journal of Planning Education and Research. 23 (1): 69–82. doi:10.1177/0739456X03255430.
  171. ↑ "Free public transport". Planka.nu.
  172. ↑ Planka.nu: Kollektivtrafik ska vara avgiftsfri (tr. Public transport must be free of charge) Archived 2009-04-15 at the Wayback Machine (Swedish)
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