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Luxembourg Just Became The First Country To Make Public Transportation Free
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Luxembourg Just Became The First Country To Make Public Transportation Free

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Public transportation might not seem so appealing to everyone. After all, you have to follow schedules and plan your trip ahead, elbow and get elbowed by multiple people during rush hour (accidentally, of course), and you can never choose who you are traveling with. But all the struggle is really kinda worth it when you think about the benefits like less crowded roads, lower CO2 emission, and so on. Knowing this, many countries contemplate making public transportation free and while some countries even made some effort by making certain means of public transport free for certain groups of people (for example, students and youth under 18), Luxembourg is the first country to make all public transportation absolutely free.

More info: Mobilite Gratuite Au Luxembourg

RELATED:

    Luxembourg has become the first country in the world to offer free public transportation

    François Bausch, the minister of mobility and public works, is convinced that “The range, punctuality and quality of the services on offer are crucial to motivating people to change their habits and switch from private cars to public transport.”

    The country’s government introduced it as an attempt to reduce congestion from car traffic

    A spokesperson for the Luxembourg government said: “As 2020 is a leap year and as the concerts and celebrations are happening tomorrow, it has been decided to make public transport free as from tomorrow, in order to allow everybody to join the public events free of charge.”

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    Luxembourg is the first country ever to make all trains, trams, and buses completely free

    Surely enough, not everyone is convinced about this “leap of faith”. Claude Moyen, a teacher who travels by train to his school in the town of Diekirch every day, told The Independent he feared the quality of journeys might suffer. I’m not sure if making public transport free here in Luxembourg will take more people out of their cars,” he said.

    They are also planning a systematic expansion of capacity in the national rail network and doubling the current number of P+R parking spaces

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    François Bausch, the minister of mobility and public works, describes the move as: “The social icing on the cake of the global strategy for a multimodal revolution”

    Thus, all public transport has become free of charge since the 3rd of March, 2020

    Part of the cost will be covered by eliminating the tax break for commuters which will also encourage people to shift away from the use of private cars in Luxembourg

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    While most people were happy about the news, some remain skeptical

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    Judita K

    Judita K

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    Incurable book lover and thinker, Marvel geek and social media enthusiast with a Bachelor's Degree In Creative Communication. Will write everything about anything as long as it brings joy to pandas all over the world.

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    Judita K

    Judita K

    Author, Community member

    Incurable book lover and thinker, Marvel geek and social media enthusiast with a Bachelor's Degree In Creative Communication. Will write everything about anything as long as it brings joy to pandas all over the world.

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    Christophe Beunens
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I live in Luxembourg.. What the article does not say is that +/- 450.000 people live in the country, and every day 200.000 (almost 50% of the original population) people come to work in Lux. This creates congestion, and frustration. Lux is building a tramway, creates P+R's at the city borders, invests in train connections, and now also making public transport free. It's a great initiative!

    steven mayes
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It will be interesting to see how it works. I lived in your lovely country for 9 years (Cranach) and miss it every day.

    Load More Replies...
    Johnnee
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nothing is free and everything has to be paid for one way or the other.

    Ivan Ilic
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am from Serbia and in my hometown public transport is free

    Load More Comments
    Christophe Beunens
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I live in Luxembourg.. What the article does not say is that +/- 450.000 people live in the country, and every day 200.000 (almost 50% of the original population) people come to work in Lux. This creates congestion, and frustration. Lux is building a tramway, creates P+R's at the city borders, invests in train connections, and now also making public transport free. It's a great initiative!

    steven mayes
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It will be interesting to see how it works. I lived in your lovely country for 9 years (Cranach) and miss it every day.

    Load More Replies...
    Johnnee
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nothing is free and everything has to be paid for one way or the other.

    Ivan Ilic
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am from Serbia and in my hometown public transport is free

    Load More Comments
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