The Indian state of Karnataka has notched up the TWO BILLIONTH passenger to use a scheme introduced last year to provide free bus travel for women.
The <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/11-months-on-free-bus-rides-for-women-cross-200-crore/articleshow/109900000.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Times of India reported</a> that, had it not been for the extra-hot summer and the elections, numbers would probably have been even higher.
When the scheme was introduced in June last year, the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/26/ticket-to-freedom-free-bus-rides-for-women-spark-joy-for-millions-in-karnataka" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Guardian reported</a> elation among women in Karnataka. The city of New Delhi started free bus travel for women in 2019. The same policy applies in the state of Tamil Nadu, for short journeys only.
<pre>Published: 28 July 2024.</pre>

A crowd of people at the KSRTC bus stand at Kukke Subrahmanya in Dakshina Kannada district. Thousands of women have been thronging various temples and tourism destinations across Karnataka since the launch of the Shakti scheme last year. | Photo Credit: H.S. MANJUNATH

Two billion rides for free in Karnataka, India

French City Clermont-Ferrand could soon extend its weekend free public transport for all to weekdays too. <a href="https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/three-french-cities-offer-free-public-transport-and-soon-four/676847">The article</a> in Connexion newspaper says:
&#8216;Since December 4, 2021, all residents of the Clermont-Ferrand metropolitan area have been able to use public transport for free on weekends. But now, mayor Olivier Bianchi, has said that he is “not opposed in principle” to the idea of making the city’s transport network free during the week too.&#8217;
The article quotes the Mayor of Nantes, stating that free travel on weekends is &#8220;both a measure to improve the purchasing power of residents and users of public transport, and a concrete response to the challenges of the ecological transition.”
All cities mentioned experienced an increase in passenger numbers, and in Niort &#8220;many car drivers have switched to using the buses; 85% of new bus users had previously travelled by car in the city before 2017.&#8221;
The article states that three cities in France already offer free public transport to all, but this is an underestimate: our friends who are campaigning in France say: &#8220;There are currently more than 43 cities with free public transport for all in France. 6 above 100000 inhabitants and 10 between 50000 and 100000 inhabitants.&#8221; These cities provide comparators for UK cities, who should also be providing free public transport. More information on which cities provide free public transport and a map is available on the website <a href="http://www.obs-transport-gratuit.fr/en/cities-of-free-transport-163/free-for-the-majority-of-users-5094/">Observatoire des Villes du Transport Gratuit</a> (Observatory of Cities with Free Transport).
At Fare Free London&#8217;s event on 29th September, we will discuss developments in France with Jerome Serodio, National Coordination of Collectives for Free Public Transport in France. All are welcome, from the interested to the already-active.  Sign up <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/events/winning-free-public-transport-campaign-meeting/">here:</a>
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/events/winning-free-public-transport-campaign-meeting/">https://actionnetwork.org/events/winning-free-public-transport-campaign-meeting/</a>
<pre>Published: 8 September 2024.</pre>

Montpellier Tram by Mike Workman / Shutterstock.

More French cities offering free public transport

The website The Conversation posted an article (25 August 2024) discussing how reduced fares affect public transport usage in Australia. You can read it <a href="https://theconversation.com/50-cents-0-cents-1-question-how-much-can-fare-cuts-boost-public-transport-use-236574">here</a>.
It is focused around Queensland&#8217;s 6-month trial of 50-cent fares. 50 cents is apparently a peppercorn rate to maintain the data collection from tapping on and off, which would be lost if they just kept the ticket barriers open.
The author asserts three ways the transport authorities use fares:
<ol>
<li>To help cover the costs of the service &#8211; although in most Australian cities fares contribute about 30% of the revenue of the transport authority. (In London it&#8217;s about 75%.)</li>
<li>To regulate use at certain times of the day, e.g. off-peak fares being lower.</li>
<li>To discourage use of the trains and stations by people in need of shelter and for staying warm.</li>
</ol>
It mentioned that cutting fares can lead to an increase in ridership, and that studies differ on how much that increase would be. The length of time the reduced fares were being offered for would also affect the level of ridership increase.
The article also mentioned that in Australia, Canberra&#8217;s transport authority is set to introduce free public transport from tomorrow (1 September 2024) until November, while they install the new hardware for tap-on tap-off fare collection.
<pre>Published: 31 August 2024.</pre>

Text reading "Fare Free London" in blue letters

Australian cities reduce public transport fares to cheap or free

On 28th August, a few of us from Fare Free London joined our good friends, Fossil Free London, to demonstrate outside the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities offices against the government&#8217;s decision to permit expansion of London City Airport.
We need to invest in public transport, not climate-trashing roads and airports! Watch a short video of Fare Free London&#8217;s speech at the demo here:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Fare Free London speech at DLUHC" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bhpyS6R05iI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
We have strategy and campaign meeting on 29 September to take this fight to the next level! Come along and hear excellent speakers on the global fight for free public transport. Sign up <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/events/winning-free-public-transport-campaign-meeting/">here:</a>
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/events/winning-free-public-transport-campaign-meeting/">https://actionnetwork.org/events/winning-free-public-transport-campaign-meeting/</a>
<pre>Published: 31 August 2024.</pre>

Two billion rides for free in Karnataka, India

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