Earlier this summer, Dunkirk in northern France, published results of an academic study into the scheme that was launched over a year ago. In September 2018 the town, with a population of nearly 300,000 offered free bus passes to not only residents but also visitors to the city. A follow up survey of 2,000 users detailed a dramatic shift in user behaviour. The study, undertaken in conjunction with Vigs, a research agency specialising in the built environment and Lyon University indicated that bus use has risen by more than 60% on weekdays and more than doubled over the weekends, with families, young people and the elderly benefiting the most.

In additional nearly 30% those surveyed said that the availability of a free bus service meant that they now make additional trips that they wouldn’t have made previously and 5% had either sold their car because of the initiative or postponed purchasing a new one. With car pollution a growing threat, especially in urban areas, policy makers are turning to alternative ideas to try to mitigate the threat.

There are now in excess of 20 towns and cities across France with a total population of in excess of 800,000 that offer some form of free transport (primarily bus transport) with the trend continuing to gain strength. Tallin, the capital city of Estonia with a population of 430,000 already offers free transport to residents once they have purchased a €2 green card whilst Vilnius in Lithuania and Riga in Latvia have also expressed an interest in the trend. Transport for London has offered free bus and tube travel to children under 12 for a number of years, whilst Paris launched its free Navigo pass initiative earlier this month. Expected to cost the city upwards of €15m per year, the scheme will enable children under the age of 12 to use all modes of transport within the greater Paris region. The full research report on the Dunkirk initiative can be found here (in French) and details the Paris Navigo project can be found here.