GeofCoxMar 13

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
Show threadGaëtan PerraultMar 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. 😀

Show threadJanet FraserMar 13
@gatesvp @GeofCox Yes, exactly this. We need similar language surrounding other taxpayer funded public goods, too. Like healthcare - in Canada it's not 'free' it's crowdsourced through taxation.
Show threadGaëtan Perrault

@braxa26 @GeofCox 💯

I have heard some people use the term "free at the point of service", but not only is this not catchy, it isn't really accurate either. Drugs are not funded equally, dental care and mental healthcare are not all covered, disability support is so limited that people have to self-insure for glasses.

"Crowdsourced healthcare" is very cozy, but it feels a little more scattershot than it really is. I think "taxpayer funded healthcare" is probably a more accurate term. I don't know if it's catchy enough to replace "free healthcare".

I'm open to ideas here. I would definitely like a better term to just start using.

Mar 13 at 7:09pmWeb
Show threadJanet FraserMar 14
@gatesvp @GeofCox
I used to use universal healthcare but it's not accurate, as you know. Now I usually say taxpayer funded even though it's clunky because I haven't heard or come up with anything more poetic.