Free buses in Tempe, Arizona, USA

The other night when we were going to a basketball game at Arizona State University we took the Venus line and then transferred to the Mercury line. And here is the thing. These buses are completely free of charge. The city operates them to encourage people to take public transit rather than drive their own cars. Dave chatted with one of the drivers who said the program has been very successful. Taxes were raised by a tiny percentage point to pay for the Orbit buses.

https://maryloudriedger2.wordpress.com/2020/03/13/orbiting-tempe/ 

Dakota County #freetransit service extended and expanded

A bus runs three times daily Monday through Friday between the county courthouse in Hastings, Cedar Grove Transit Station in Eagan and Signal Hills Shopping Center in West St. Paul, where riders can access Metro Transit and Minnesota Valley Transit Authority bus connections.

https://www.twincities.com/2020/03/10/dakota-county-opens-up-free-transit-service-to-the-public-makes-stops-in-hastings-eagan-and-west-st-paul/? 

Fare-free system in North Carolina to expand service on weekends

ICYMI Last week, #Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and UNC-Chapel Hill approved the @chtransit Short Range Transit Plan, a big leap forward for our local fare-free #transit system. We're going to have 7-day-a-week bus service! #ctc #chtc #unc

— Damon Seils 🏳️‍🌈 (@damonseils) March 5, 2020

Macomb, IL - #publictransit is free

McDonough County Public Transportation‘s Go West Transit is the only free, unlimited access bus system in Illinois that also boasts the 6th highest ridership in the state. The “Fixed Route System” for McDonough County has 17 routes and over 100 bus stops located throughout the County, Campus and the City of Macomb.

https://www.makeitmacomb.com/gowest-transit/ 

Delhi, India, #freepublictransport for women and adding buses to a record number

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who took oath for a third term on Sunday, this morning assured there would be "no dearth of buses" in the national capital soon. The Aam Aadmi Party chief had promised to expand city's bus fleet ahead of assembly elections.
"It did take time. But finally we were able to overcome all obstacles. So, buses have started arriving. I can assure all Delhiites, soon there won't be any dearth of buses (sic)," the 51-year-old AAP chief tweeted this morning. He also shared a news report that said that the public bus fleet crossed the 6,000 mark in the city for the first time in 10 years under the AAP government.

https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/delhi-chief-minister-arvind-kejriwal-assures-there-would-be-no-dearth-of-buses-soon-in-delhi-2181742

Vail, CO, free service started with 2 buses in 1969, now carries 3.2 million rides a year

@VailGov

In fact, the town's bus service is considered to be among the largest free transportation systems in the country offering its residents and guests timely service to and from Vail Mountain and throughout town.
https://www.vailgov.com/bus-information 

[2014] Buses become free in Zory, Poland, ridership quadruples, more service added

The city also argued that free public transport including encourage residents to give up cars every day, reduce barriers to access to education, culture or recreation, and improve the situation of large families. "The observations of drivers and our officials show that the number of passengers - from May to July - increased by up to four times in buses" - Anna Ujma from the City Hall in Żory told PAP.
Recently, the local government has suggested to residents that they submit comments on the functioning of free public transport (comments and applications were submitted, among others, by email). As Ujma said, their goal was, among others determining the residents' needs. "The three basic requests concerned especially the introduction of larger buses, adapting the timetable to the needs of students, and increasing the number of stops" - said Ujma.
She added that buses that could accommodate more passengers than previously appeared on route 5 in the Rój district and on route 6 in the Baranowice district, three new stop locations are being prepared, including at the Sikorski estate

[google translate]
https://fptpoland.blogspot.com/2014/08/zory-poland-freetransit-increases.html
https://www.forbes.pl/csr/bezplatna-komunikacja-w-zorach-cieszy-sie-popularnoscia/eh2fz1v 

Dayton, Ohio, Fare-free downtown circulator, ridership jumps, bus added

The Flyer originally had three buses in rotation on the route at any given time. Olson said the RTA has added a fourth bus because of the high volumes of riders and increased traffic on Brown Street. 

The Flyer now has 37 stops, including two new ones. One is by the Schuster Center, across from Premier Health’s downtown headquarters at 110 N. Main St. The other is at the pavilion at RiverScape MetroPark.

https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/downtown-dayton-free-shuttle-service-gets-new-stops-new-bus/TYN3x2pft9TkTFXbExHSQO/ 

Dunkirk, France, ridership up, service expanded, with #freepublictransport

Free #public #transit in Dunkirk at #France is a step towards #sustainability! 🌱

CC @JJ_Angelus @ingridcapuni @CRudinschi @ShiCooks @Victoryabro @OphelieJanus @andrewmorrisuk @ClimateChangeOb @GabryL @JosephPrigith #Sustainable #ClimateEmergency #ActOnClimate

Via WasteEd pic.twitter.com/RBs6dEoRsI

— Dev Khanna (@jrzaranoid) February 9, 2020

Clemson Area Transit, fare-free, growing and improving service for over ten years

EVERYONE RIDES FARE FREE!
Clemson Area Transit is a public service provided fare-free by Clemson University, the City of Clemson, the Town of Central, the Town of Pendleton, the City of Seneca, the South Carolina Department of Transportation, and the Federal Transit Administration.

[2018] CLEMSON — Clemson Area Transit has moved one step closer to reaching its goal of replacing its remaining diesel fleet with electric buses by 2023.
CAT general manager Keith Moody said the city’s first of 10 newly designed electric buses arrived at the organization’s West Lane headquarters late last week.

http://catbus.com/GeneralInfo/tabid/791/Default.aspx?

17 towns/cities in Brazil have #freepublictransport

Among the cities where there is no tariff, according to a survey of the website “Mobilize” are: Vargem Grande Paulista (SP), Potirendaba (SP), Paulínia (SP), Agudos (SP), Maricá (RJ), Volta Redonda ( RJ), Porto Real (RJ), Silva Jardim (RJ), Ivaiporã (PR), Muzambinho (MG), Itatiaiuçu (MG), Mount Carmel (MG), Campo Belo (MG), Eusebio (CE), Anicuns (GO) ) and Pitanga (PR).

https://diariodotransporte.com.br/2020/01/30/jaboticabal-contrata-empresa-para-formulacao-de-tarifa-zero-em-onibus/ 

Map of #freepublictransit in France

http://www.obs-transport-gratuit.fr/

Calais : une fréquentation en hausse de 70% depuis la gratuité des transports en commun

Calais est la deuxième ville des Hauts-de-France à opter pour la gratuité des transports en commun dans toute l’agglomération calaisienne. Depuis le 2 janvier dernier, les titres de transports n’existent plus, mais le bonjour au chauffeur reste de mise ! Côté chiffres, Daniel Roussel, l’instigateur de cette nouveauté annonce un succès sans contestation possible. Sur certaines lignes, les passagers sont 120% de plus que lorsque les bus étaient payants. Les parcours ne changent pas et les usagers peuvent se déplacer sur les 14 communes que compte l’agglomération Grand Calais Terres & Mers.

https://www.neozone.org/societe/calais-une-frequentation-en-hausse-de-70-depuis-la-gratuite-des-transports-en-commun/ 

Tallinn invests in its fare-free system

Tallinn City Transport Ltd invested a total of 53.4 million euros in 2015 and 2016 in the 20 new CAF Urbos AXL trams. The operator’s fleet comprises 529 buses, 70 trams and 50 trolley buses serving 83 public transport lines in the capital and more than 140 million passengers every year. 

Tallinn is the first European capital that has abolished public transport fares for city residents. Since 2013 Tallinn residents and Estonian citizens aged 65 or over can ride for free on buses, trams, trolley buses and commuter trains within city borders.

https://www.themayor.eu/en/free-wi-fi-and-contactless-payments-in-tallinns-new-trams? 

Komarno, Slovakia starts #freepublictransport

At the start of January, the Slovakian town of Komarno became the first city in the country to introduce entirely free public transport to all its residents and visitors. The plan for this drastic change was approved by the city council late last year and marks a first in municipal politics in the country – no other town has yet made the attempt to make public transport free of charge for citizens and tourists alike.

https://www.themayor.eu/en/komarno-becomes-first-city-in-slovakia-with-entirely-free-public-transport 

Cascais, Portugal, population over 200,000, goes fare-free

https://farefreeeu.blogspot.com/2020/01/cidade-portuguesa-adota-passe-livre-no.html

https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/mundo/2020/01/cidade-portuguesa-adota-passe-livre-no-transporte-publico.shtml

Rogers, AR, #freepublictransit

ROGERS, Ark. (KNWA) —The City of Rogers is partnering with Ozark Regional Transit to provide on-demand and enhanced public transit services for zero fare to residents and visitors, according to a press release issued on Wednesday.

https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/knwa/rogers-partners-with-ozark-regional-transit-to-provide-fare-free-on-demand-public-transit/ 

Children and seniors -- #freetransit -- Kraśnik, Poland

[google translate] Children and adolescents up to 19 years of age or until graduation, as well as 60+ seniors will be able to ride free public transport in Kraśnik. This was decided by the councilors. The decision was taken by the opposition of private carriers who participated in the deliberations.

https://www.dziennikwschodni.pl/krasnik/radni-zgodzili-sie-na-bezplatna-komunikacje-w-krasniku-kto-pojedzie-bez-biletow,n,1000257604.html 

Free public transport leads to increased service in Poland towns

 

President Robert Lubinski announced the change last week. "Free buses will now also go to Polkowice and Chocianów! From January they will carry passengers not only after the Lubin poviat, they will also appear on the roads of the neighboring Polkowice poviat, "he wrote on Facebook.

This is the effect of signing a letter of intent in the Lublin city hall between representatives of poviats and cities - Lubin, Polkowice and little Chocianów. Buses connecting these three cities, where tickets will not be needed, are to start on the route in January.

https://www.transport-publiczny.pl/wiadomosci/bezplatne-autobusy-z-lubina-pojada-do-polkowic-60384.html

The residents of Lubin have been driving free transport since 2014. When the city authorities decided to go free, many thought that this idea would come to nothing. Meanwhile, since 2013, the city has summarized and analyzed all costs related to public transport. It turns out that free buses not only pay off, but also find supporters among other local governments. Says Marcelina Falkiewicz, spokesperson of President Lubin.

https://legnica.fm/wiadomosci/wiadomosci-fakty/17-fakty-lubin/30533-bezplatna-komunikacja-sie-oplaca?

Bielsk Podlaski wprowadza darmową komunikację miejską

Od środy (01.01) przejazd komunikacją miejską będzie bezpłatny dla wszystkich. Tak jednogłośnie zadecydowali radni miasta na swojej ostatniej w tym roku sesji. Mieszkańcy liczą na oszczędności i czystsze powietrze.

https://fptpoland.blogspot.com/2020/01/bielsk-podlaski-wprowadza-darmowa.html?