Mastodawn

Almost 50 cities in France have already done away with paid tickets... "Nearly three million people in France can now use urban public transport without paying a fare. That number is likely to grow after the municipal elections... given the proliferation of proposals to make urban transport at least partially free."

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2026/03/12/french-cities-steady-march-toward-free-public-transport_6751388_19.html

French cities' steady march toward free public transport

Ahead of the municipal elections, candidates across the country have promised fare-free transport. Almost 50 cities have already done away with paid tickets, compared to just six before the 2000s.

Le Monde

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Gaëtan Perrault Mar 13

@GeofCox

This is great to see. We definitely need to see more of this, though I think it needs a new name.

The article uses the term "free", but you are using the term "without paying a fare".

I like that framing better. It's not "free" transportation because it's still being paid for. But it's "fare-free" transportation as opposed to the other transportation methods that charge a fare.

I really think we need to move to the term "Fareless" or "Fare-free" because it actually sounds like a feature now. 😀

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Henrik Sundström

@gatesvp @GeofCox
In Sweden (Stockholm and Göteborg) there is a "free-fare"-fund called "Planka" (literally Gatecrash)

"Join the parking fund!
Planking is both a way to save money and a political act for free public transport.
If you are a member of the parking fund, we will pay your fines on public transport.
Becoming a member only costs 100:-/month in Stockholm and 100:-/month in Gothenburg (300 SEK the first month)."
More:
https://planka.nu

Planka.nu – För en avgiftsfri kollektivtrafik som styrs av de som reser och arbetar i den.

För en avgiftsfri kollektivtrafik som styrs av de som reser och arbetar i den.

Planka.nu