this post was submitted on 22 Dec 2023
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[–] TimeNaan 18 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

It's not the first city/town in europe that's done this. Many medium-sized towns in my country have free public transportation. It works very well and means less cars.

People don't abuse it, because how would you even abuse something like that?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Because unfortunately, they do.

In Scotland, multiple local authorities signed up to a scheme to allow young persons to use cards to get free travel. Fantastic idea and one that would be awesome to see spread to all age bands, but the problem was that antisocial behaviour increased in and around transport hubs, largely because of the increased mobility of people.

It'll be interesting to see if any lessons learned are integrated into other city planning where these schemes are rolled out.

[–] TimeNaan 19 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I think this isn't really free transport's fault, this is a problem with youths being antisocial, it has different causes. The free bus just helps to make it more concentrated in certain places, but the solution isnt to make the bus paid but to help the youth find better things to do.

Also to quote the first article

Despite its success, First Bus, Scotland’s largest bus operator, confirmed to The Herald it has experienced “a slight increase” in youth disorder on its network of routes since the scheme was launched, although it added that the rise “cannot be directly attributed” to the roll-out of the scheme. 

[–] TBi 2 points 10 months ago

I remember reading about a free bus scheme in London. If you were found being antisocial you lost your free bus pass. So there was an incentive to keep the buses clean.

[–] echo64 9 points 10 months ago

That's not absuing it, that's it being successfully used.

We want young people to use public transport, oh no, the young people are using public transport, the horror.

[–] whereisk 2 points 10 months ago

I'm wondering how much that is "if you can't stop it in implementation, stop it by changing the frame of the conversation", not from you, from the media - manufacturing consent etc.

There are a lot of powerful interests undermining free pt, road contractors, car industry, petrol industry etc.