Campaign for Free Public Transport

Our solution to pollution - Our suggestion for congestion

"An expanded public transport system that is fully
integrated, publicly owned and free at the point of use."

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USEFUL ONLINE LINKS

Over the coming months we are looking to turn this web page into a useful complilation of online links to other groups, campaigns, organisations and resources on the world wide web that might be of interest to supporters of our campaign for free public transport.

FIRST CHECKOUT THIS EXCELLENT VIDEO IN SUPPORT OF FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT
PRODUCED BY THE SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY AS PART OF A RECENT ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Planka.nu - free public transport activists travelled around the public transport system in Stockholm and made it free for a while by opening all the turn-stiles.

Free Public Transit - US advocates of free fares on urban buses, trains, trolleys, street cars, and light rail.

Public Transport in Hasselt - Wikipedia page on the much praised and often referred to free public transport scheme in the Belgian City of Hasselt.

Campaign for Free Public Transport in Scotland - you've seen the youtube video (if not, see above) - now visit the web site!

Carfree.com - the web site that goes with the book. Proposes a delightful solution to the vexing problem of urban automobiles.

- Raising Green Consciousness since 2002. Puts a convincing case why free public transport would work.

Campaign for Better Transport - a campaign that has been helping to create transport policies and programmes that give people better lives since 1973.

Carfree France - Uniting organisations and individuals dedicated to promoting alternatives to car dependence and automobile-based planning across France, and working to reduce the human impact on the natural environment while improving the quality of life for all, Carfree France have decided to fight against climate change by creating a nationwide free public transport system.

Free Public Transport for Cambridgeshire - a new campaign aiming to secure free or much lower priced public transport for young people in full time education in Cambridgeshire!

National Audit Office - road casualty statistics

Labour Transport Group - formed in 2008 with the intention of promoting the discussion of transport policy within the Labour Party.

Save Our Fire Service - FBU web site opposing cuts in the Greater Manchester Fire Service.

Towns & Cities with a zero fares policy - Wikipedia page that lists exactly what it says on the tin!

The Salford Star - campaigning community magazine for the city of Salford.

WHY FREE?

WHY WE CALL FOR FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Campaign for Free Public Transport Logo

Many people have asked us why we are campaigning for free public transport, rather than something like low cost, or cheaper and/or more efficient public transport. This is an important point. There is a critical difference.

If you have ever used public transport, and especially a bus, you will recognise the difference right away. You have to wait for everyone to pay as they get on the bus. You can't easily jump on and off a bus if you decide go on an errand.

You can of course buy a weekly or monthly pass, but you may still have to wait in line to show it to the driver.

Indeed, such are the delays caused in boarding as a result of fare collection that in the US, the Chicago Transport Authority is going to spend $25 million on a computer system to try and tackle the problem.

For the economists there are also many other reasons.

Having a fare, any fare, requires a basic fixed cost of collecting the fare. That is why many of the successful examples of free public transport are small rural transit systems. They found the cost of collecting fares too high a fixed cost in percentage terms.

The 'fixed cost' being represented in the cost of cashiers, book-keepers and accountants, and for the printing of tickets and passes, and so on. Also the cost of selling tickets and passes and collecting fares. All the people involved in those things could be working on cleaning, vehicle maintenance, security or even driving the buses.

Large transit systems actually have more fixed, fare-related costs, but they often put them in another accounting bucket, namely security. Do you see all those stainless steel turnstyles on the London Underground for example and all the caging and fencing to prevent fare avoidance. They cost a bundle.

With free transit, more people will ride. It is a proven fact (it's even intuitive). It will also be more convenient and easier on the employees and more economical for the operation.