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Why (not) abolish fares? Exploring the global geography of fare‐free public transport

Journal Contribution - Journal Article

Although the policy of abolishing fares in public transport—here referred to as “fare-free public transport” (FFPT)—exists in nearly 100 localities worldwide, it has not been thor- oughly researched. To start filling this gap, I enhance the conceptual clarity about fare abo- lition. I start by providing a definition of FFPT, discussing its different forms, and introduc- ing a distinction between “partial” FFPT and—the main focus of the paper—“full” FFPT. Next, I distinguish three perspectives on full FFPT—first, approaches that assess fare abo- lition primarily against its economic impact; second, analyses that look at its contribution to “sustainable” development; third, more critical arguments highlighting its politically transformative and socially just potential. Against the background of this debate I offer the most comprehensive inventory of full FFPT programmes to date, and begin to chart and examine their global geography. As a result, FFPT emerges as a policy that takes diverse forms and exists in diverse locations. Supported and contested by diverse rationales, it can- not be analysed as transport instrument alone.
Journal: Transportation
ISSN: 0049-4488
Issue: 6
Volume: 47
Pages: 2807-2835
Publication year:2020
Keywords:Fare-free public transport, Fares, Public transport, Transport geography, Transport policy, Urban transport
CSS-citation score:3
Accessibility:Closed