The free public transport They are an innovative practice for reducing traffic congestion, air pollution and the cost required to issue tickets.
Although this particular practice practice is not widespread, there are several cities around the world that have established the measure, improving the daily lives of citizens.
Although the cost of adopting the measure is high for local authorities, the benefits are significant for the transition to the green economy and the treatment of climate change.
Let’s see what are the six cities that have established innovative programs with free public transport.
City of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Luxembourg became the first country in the world to offer free public transport in 2020, both for permanent residents and for tourists, who can use buses, trains and trams at no cost, in an effort to reduce the use of private vehicles.
The free service is not only valid for the city of Luxembourg, but also extends to the entire countryside. At the same time, some municipalities have established a mini -bus service, widely known as “Ruffbus”, who directly receive residents from the door of their home.
Belgrade, Serbia
Since the beginning of this year, the Serbian capital has become the only European city with a population of more than one million inhabitants, where public transport is free. It is worth noting that Belgrade welcomes 1 million tourists each year and has a population of almost 1.7 million. The measure is mainly aimed at reducing pollution in Belgrade, which often ranks among the 10 most infected cities in the world, based on the data of the Swiss IQ Air company, which measures worldwide air pollution.
At the same time, all the buses, trams and trolleys will be renewed by 2027, according to Mayor Aleksandar šapić.
Whether you decide to take the bus, or the train, in a matter of minutes you can admire some of the city’s most popular attractions, such as the Nikola Tesla Museum or to go to the church of Agios Savva, which is the largest Orthodox Church of the Balkans.
The city’s plans are of course the construction of a subway that is expected to be completed by 2030, which is expected to improve the daily lives of residents.
Kansas City, Missouri
In 2020, Kansas City (the largest city in the state of Missouri) became the first major US city to apply free bus services in the wake of the pandemic. Five years later, the Municipal Council agreed to maintain the measure by April 2025, facilitating the movements for the elderly, students and socially weak in general.
The free bus service mainly operates throughout the center of Kansas City on Missouri side, with some lines stretching to the suburbs.
New Delhi, India
Since 2019, New Delhi has been providing a unique measure of its kind – the “pink fold” – and is aimed exclusively at women living in the capital of India. The measure was established to limit air pollution, but mainly to shield women’s safety, on the sidelines of an incident that had caused anger and indignation worldwide and involved the rape of a student on a private bus in 2012.
The measure also expanded in 2024 to the trans community of the city. However, according to the available data, there has been a huge increase in women’s movements since the measure was established, helping them save money on health care and education. An indication is that the percentage of pink tickets on total tickets ratified has almost doubled, as from 25% in 2021, it was raised to 46% in 2024. The measure is currently available only for city residents, although it may expand to the future.
Tallinn, Estonia
The capital of Estonia was one of the first major cities to apply free public transport (buses, trolleys and trams) for permanent residents in 2013. Today, the city’s population reaches almost 458,000 residents, who are only called to pay a small price for a free one for a small price for a small price. Card. “
Visitors, however, can benefit by buying the “Tallinn Card”. This pass is valid for various periods (24, 48 or 72 hours) and costs from 45 to 78 euros. The cost may seem high, however, in addition to the unlimited public transport routes, the (rapid) access to more than 50 attractions to all Tallinn, including the Museum of Natural History and the home of former Tsar Peter the Great, is one of the (rapid) access to the former.
Dunkirk, France
Dunkirk, located on the northern coast of France, played a decisive role in World War II. Since 2018, the French city has been offering free buses on both residents and visitors. The measure significantly increased the use of public transport, mainly from young and old, and reduced traffic congestion. DK’bus is a free service within the city’s boundaries, and extends west to the Gravelines community.
To the east, one can reach Belgium for free. Free itineraries facilitate the visit to almost every attraction of the city, such as the famous Museum Dunkerque 1940 Operation Dynamo with exhibits from the Battle of Dunkirk, between the Nazis and the troops of France, the United Kingdom and Belgium.