Luxembourg To Become First Country To Make All Public Transport Free
Source: The Guardian
Luxembourg is set to become the first country in the world to make all its public transport free. Fares on trains, trams and buses will be lifted next summer under the plans of the re-elected coalition government led by Xavier Bettel, who was sworn in for a second term as prime minister on Wednesday.
Bettel, whose Democratic party will form a government with the leftwing Socialist Workers party and the Greens, had vowed to prioritise the environment during the recent election campaign. On top of the transport pledge, the new government is also considering legalising cannabis, and introducing two new public holidays.
Luxembourg City, the capital of the small Grand Duchy, suffers from some of the worst traffic congestion in the world. It is home to about 110,000 people, but a further 400,000 commute into the city to work. A study suggested that drivers in the capital spent an average of 33 hours in traffic jams in 2016.
While the country as a whole has 600,000 inhabitants, nearly 200,000 people living in France, Belgium and Germany cross the border every day to work in Luxembourg. - More...
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/05/luxembourg-to-become-first-country-to-make-all-public-transport-free
Luxembourg's progressive view of transportation has resulted in several new key measures: the government started free transport for every child and young person under the age of 20 this summer; students in secondary schools can use free shuttles between their institution and home; and commuters pay only 2 (£1.78) for up to 2 hours of travel, in a nation of 999 sq. miles (2,590 sq. km) which covers almost all journeys.
appalachiablue
(41,056 posts)-IPCC REPORT-
>Economic sectors, highest green house gases: 1. Electricity & Heat 2. Agriculture & forestry 3. Industry 4. Transportation. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/global-greenhouse-gas-emissions-data
*'We are in trouble.' Global carbon emissions reached a new record high in 2018,' The Washington Post, Dec. 5, 2018.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142216927
TomCADem
(17,378 posts)Plus, it is dense enough to make it economical all around, rather than building and widening roads.
appalachiablue
(41,056 posts)LakeSuperiorView
(1,533 posts)At 2541 square miles, Wrangell dwarfs Luxembourg's 999 square miles. Then again the 600,000 that live in Luxembourg are much more densely packed than Wrangell's 2369. Wrangell has less than 1 person per square mile, which really stretches the definition of city.
The Genealogist
(4,723 posts)I live in Missouri, and checked on county size. Luxembourg is smaller than Texas and Shannon Counties in Missouri.
I'm glad Luxembourg is taking steps in the right direction.
Judi Lynn
(160,219 posts)Polybius
(15,239 posts)Please?
appalachiablue
(41,056 posts)Rollo
(2,559 posts)You'd get a wallet size punch card for $1 and it had 20 rides on it. You could ride anywhere in the 50 square mile city with it, no restrictions.
It was said to be one of the best municipal bus/trolley/streetcar systems in America.
Politicub
(12,163 posts)People used to write songs about it. That was a pretty big endorsement!
MrScorpio
(73,626 posts)Parking is no walk in the park either... It's more like a walk all over the damn city.
I commend the folks there on this milestone.
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)We need to stop using the term Free.
Free healthcare
Free college
Americans and not all financial rubes and know nothing is free.
We need to explain how it benefits the whole population to making these things available for all through progressive taxation.
And full disclosure: I do not support free college for everyone. I support means based support.
appalachiablue
(41,056 posts)people may not know what that means, and it would drive cons insane. But how else to describe it is the thing. 'Universal' or 'govt. supported' maybe.
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)Cause it can mean whatever you want. And Is accurate. If we have universal healthcare(not a synonym with single payer) everyone has healthcare. I would imagine my taxes my increase but that is a small price to pay. Those struggling would have a huge burden lifted and many might be able to access the traditional American idea of social mobility which helps us all.
We need to create a new paradigm- if the poor do better we all do better. Because that is way more accurate than the rich doing better helping us all.
appalachiablue
(41,056 posts)govt. likely needs 'free' for a while, until it sinks in. They know the most effective marketing strategy.