What can you do in Richmond, Virginia, Tallinn, Estonia, and the countries of Luxembourg and Malta that’s not possible most other places? Kudos if you guessed “ride public transit for free.”
Estonia is an innovator in many ways. Its capital, Tallinn, abolished fares on public transit for residents back in 2013. Since then, many other cities around the world – and the whole countries of Luxembourg and Malta – have adopted Zero Fare policies on all or part of their public transportation systems.
Municipalities aim to get people out of cars, take cars off the road, and give those with lower incomes easier access to jobs and education. A growing awareness of mobility inequality, desire for emissions reductions, and promoting healthier lifestyles are drivers of these programs.
They often begin as a pilot program or temporary offering. Municipalities are able to monitor ridership increase, air quality improvements, and traffic reduction, while assessing funding needs for the long term.
Some transit systems offer fare-free rides only on weekends, or only for certain ages – the young and the old. Others allow residents to ride free while visitors pay the standard fare.
For example, Malta residents present a Tallinja card that identifies them as residents; they tap the card for entry as other riders do, but no fare is required. Similarly in Tallinn, residents register for the Ühiskaart smart card and tap it to ride fare-free. Other cities, like Dunkirk France, Richmond, Virginia make ridership free for everyone. The Greater Richmond Transit Company’s Zero Fare program means no one needs a ticket, pass, or cash fare to use its system. It is supported by state grants, local matching funds, advertising, and donations.
In other cities, revenue from lost fares is also made up in various ways — though fares typically account for no more than a quarter of operating costs. Some vote to impose a payroll tax on companies of a certain size, to raise the gas tax, and/or collect grants, public subsidies, or other financial contributions. And some of the revenue loss is offset by eliminating the cost of fare collection.
Zero-fare programs have been successful in many places, resulting in a measurable reduction of cars on the road, increasing ridership among those who lacked mobility options, and promoting health and safety with concurrent urban planning. Not all programs have staying power, however. Kansas City, Missouri was the first city in the U.S. to implement zero-fare transit in 2020. After six years, fares were reinstated this June due to rising costs, expiring federal money, and to spare service cuts. A free transit model can work, but it’s a better fit in some cities than others.
Here are some of the transit systems committed to Zero Fare transit:
Caucaia, Brazil: Passe Libre program on various transit providers (and another 100+ municipalities in Brazil)
Dunkirk, France: DK’Bus (and another 40+ cities in France)
Lubin, Poland: PKS Lubin SA (and another 30+ cities in Poland)
Malta: Malta Public Transport
Olympia, Washington: Intercity Transit
Richmond, Virginia: GRCT
Tallinn, Estonia: Tallinn Transport
Newcomers to any of these fare-free cities and countries benefit alongside the locals. If a transit system is alive and well – let alone free – it opens up mobility opportunities for everyone. Even those who have to pay some fare will know they are supporting transit for those who can’t afford it.
Find public transportation information – including service options, coverage area, and fares — in 240+ destinations on Living Abroad’s International Relocation Center.
Written by Ellen Harris, GMS, Product Manager, Content Group
