FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT - ANTI GENTRIFICATION INSTRUMENT
What? Free public transport? That is economically inefficient and not a viable solution. It simply doesn't work. How do you expect to fund public transport if it's free? People will no longer appreciate its value.
Unfortunately, this is the general stance people take when discussing free public transport. There are a few places worldwide where free public transport has been implemented, yet we are quick to conclude that it doesn't deliver the expected results.
We definitely don't give the idea of free public transport a chance in public debates. This is problematic because real data and nuanced research explaining the contradictions of paid fares for public transport can simply not gain momentum of popularity.
In this regard, we are currently preparing our new YouTube episode where an academic researcher from the Free University of Brussels, Wojciech Kębłowski, debunks the myth of Free Fare Public Transport.
In our 40-minute insightful conversation, we also discussed solutions that could encourage the concept of Free Public Transport.
Free Fare Public Transport doesn't just mean opening the gates; it involves completely reshaping and redesigning urban design as we know it today.
In other words, instead of having a few stations as economic hubs, we should recognize the public transport network as the true backbone of the city. Many subway and bus stations remain empty and hollow. Imagine recognizing these as sources of life and public engagement. Publicly owning the real estate around the stations and developing welfare institutions alongside commercial functions. Imagine integrating the stations as living hubs that could generate revenue and develop polycentric cities.
One simple example: Would you take your child to a daycare integrated into a public transport station? You wouldn't have to walk extra miles; you could just drop off your child at the station and continue to your next destination. Doesn't this make public life convenient and encourage people to take more ownership and respect for public transport?
If we view public transport this way, the entire network could serve as an excellent anti-gentrification tool.
It's good to think in this direction; we never even give a chance to explore these options.