Public Transport: The Serbian capital is the first metropolis not to charge for trams and buses, following the example of other European cities. But does the 'free ticket' really help?
Published 6 months ago · Labour Market
Reading time: 36s · Source 154s · · ilsole24ore.com
Sentiment: · · ·- Belgrade will offer free public transport starting January 1, 2024, aiming to reduce traffic and pollution.
- The decision was made by Mayor Aleksandar Šapić due to severe road congestion and a significant increase in car numbers over the past decade.
- Only a small percentage of users currently pay for public transport in Belgrade, with estimates suggesting only 180,000 out of 800,000 users purchase tickets or subscriptions.
- Similar free public transport initiatives in cities like Montpellier and Tallinn have shown mixed results regarding their effectiveness in reducing traffic and increasing public transport usage.
- Montpellier saw a 23.7% increase in public transport use after implementing free tickets, funded by increased business taxes.
- Tallinn has offered free public transport since 2013, resulting in a 14% increase in usage but only a 5% reduction in traffic.
- Luxembourg also implemented free public transport in March 2020, funded by taxes from wealthier residents, with costs estimated at 41 million euros per year.
Find out the mood, impact, relevance and relevant interest groups
Analyses of the article
SENTIMENT
The article presents an optimistic outlook on the initiative, highlighting its potential benefits in reducing traffic and pollution, which are favorable developments for the public.
IMPACT
Short
The decision to offer free public transport is expected to have immediate effects on traffic and pollution levels in Belgrade starting January 1, 2024.
RELEVANCE
High
The introduction of free public transport is a significant policy change that affects a large portion of the population in Belgrade, making it highly relevant to the public.
STAKEHOLDER
public
The primary stakeholders affected by this decision are the public, as they will directly benefit from the free transport initiative.