Demand #8: All aboard the fare-free tram! Next stop: social change, climate justice and mobility rights
Guest demand by Planka Nu
Fare-free public transportation is a reality in cities around the world. Tallinn in Estonia was the first European capital to introduce this in January 2013. The result was more trips by public transport and less car traffic. The poorer Russian-speaking parts of the city in particular gained more freedom to travel.
So, the positive effects include redistributing wealth from rich to poor (and from car-drivers to people usingpublic transport), mitigating climate change and bringing more freedom intocities (and less ticket-barriers, ticket-inspectors and surveillance).
In the broader perspective, fare-freetransportation also changes the role of commuters from being primarilycustomers into being citizens, or even just humans. When you can get rid of thelogic of selling and buying travel the possibilities to think differently about cities really open up.
The traffic hierarchy puts the car as the supreme ruler of our cities. This needs to be challenged by all other commuters together. Abolishing fares is one of the ways to do it, but we need a lot of ideas. We also need to question automobility - the idea that you are more free if you travel more - and acknowledge that forced travel, like commuting to work, is a source of anxiety. We need to embrace spontaneous travel adventures!
To reach our goals, we need tools. In Stockholm and Gothenburg, we have an ongoing fare-strike. In Brazil, the Movimento Passe Livre do it their way. The methods might differ, but together we can challenge the traffic hierarchy globally.
About Planka Nu: In Stockholm, Gothenburg, Ostergotland and Helsinki commuters are taking the initiative on public transportation and just travelling for free. Freeriding insurance is a cooperation between people in similar situations. You pay a small monthly amount to the fund and when you get caught freeriding your fine is paid. So if you can’t afford the high ticket prices, you will still be able to use the collective means of transportation throughout Stockholm. This works well, but we have a greater goal than just helping each other to freeride. We also campaign for free public transportation, owned by us together and controlled by the workers in it.
For more information, visit: https://planka.nu/
12th March 2015
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