Where and why do they ride for free? An overview of fare-free public transport in Poland
Monika MACIEJEWSKA, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Cosmopolis Center for Urban Research, Belgium
Daniel ŠTRAUB, Jagiellonian University, Poland
Wojciech KEBLOWSKI , Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Cosmopolis Center for Urban Research, Belgium
The policy on fare-free public transport (FFPT) is still controversial and rather marginal worldwide, but has been gaining ground in recent years in both Europe and the Americas (Keblowski, 2020). Although Poland seems to be the leader in the frequency of this initiative's occurrence among European countries (Štraub, 2019), this topic is virtually absent from the public debate at the national level.
The essence of the abolition of fares is that it can have a very positive effect on the most disadvantaged social groups. For some people, it means being able to reach places that were previously out of reach and, therefore, increases their social inclusion (Cats et al., 2014). For those who used to use public transport, but the price of the ticket was a significant expense, it is a relief for their budget. Whereas for users who choose public transport instead of the car, FFPT is a reward for socially and ecologically desired behaviour.
The authors of the study identified several dozen Polish municipalities where public transport is or has ever been free of charge for at least several months. A mixed method approach was used. First, public authorities from FFPT cases were asked to fulfil a survey questionnaire. Second, in-dept interviews were conducted with representants from selected localities. First of all, the analysis attempts to characterize the municipalities that have opted for such a policy. Classification of cases and identification of geographic clusters has been carried out. Moreover, the study tries to understand the motivations that pushed the decision-making bodies towards zeroing costs for passengers. Finally, it seeks to unpack what were the main problems (technical, social, political) encountered along the way and how the benefits of this service for the community are assessed. Better understanding of what is behind FFPT implementation can shed light on a new way of organizing urban mobility in future.
Mots clés : Fare-free public transport|public transport|transport policy|transport justice|urban mobility
A104196MM