These cities offer fare-free public transport: Where is the bus or train free?
With the aim of encouraging travel by public transport, cities in the United States have dropped fares for transit: Where is the bus or train fare-free?
Metro, buses, trains and more… Every day millions of people around the globe use public transport to get from one place to another.
In the United States, more than 5.97 billion public transportation trips were recorded in 2020, according to official figures from the US Department of Transportation, with buses being the most common form of transportation used in the country throughout the year.
While the more than 5.97 billion trips is a large number, the truth is that the number is still well below the rates registered before the COVID-19 pandemic, when Americans made more than 9.9 billion transport trips, according to the 2019 report.
Aiming to boost public transit ridership, reduce car commutes and carbon emissions, and provide relief for low-income riders; various cities in the United States have begun to eliminate public transportation fares, making it completely free - fare-free - for a good part of the population.
These cities offer free public transport: Where will the bus or train be free?
Kansas City, Missouri became the first city in the United States to offer free public transportation to its residents. Currently, travelers can enjoy zero fare on the trams.
In addition to Kansas, other cities that have implemented zero-fare public transportation include:
- Akron, Ohio
- Alexandria, Virginia
- Avon, Colorado
- Baltimore City, Maryland
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Breckenridge, Colorado
- Cache Valley, Utah
- Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Clemson, South Carolina
- Commerce, California
- Corvallis, Oregon
- Emeryville, California
- Hoboken, New Jersey
- Island County, Washington
- Missoula, Montana
- North Central New Mexico, New Mexico
- Olympia, Washington
- Park City, Utah
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Richmond, Virginia
- Savannah, Georgia
- Summit County, Colorado
- Tucson, Arizona
- Vail, Colorado
It is worth mentioning that the removal of fares in the listed cities applies according to the type of transport used, as well as the respective routes.
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More cities that could join fare-free transit
Washington D.C and New York City are currently exploring the possibility of providing free public transportation to their residents in some areas of the city. For now, all that remains is to wait for both proposals to materialize.