Montpellier Frees Public Transportation For Its Population, Tourists Still Pay

JAKARTA - Montpellier became the latest metropolitan city in France to free public transportation to its residents, after introducing the scheme last month. The city in southern France made free public transportation modes for trams and buses on December 21.

The goal is to reduce emissions and air pollution, while on the other hand to increase accessibility for city residents.

"By introducing free transportation, we dare to take great steps in realizing social justice, progress, which serves for an ecological transition," Montpellier Mayor MichaENTal Delafosse tweeted when the scheme was announced, reported by Euronews Jan. 10.

However, unlike local residents, visitors and tourists still have to pay 1.60 euros (1.70 US dollars) per trip, quoted from The Guardian.

Previously, the city had been experimenting with free transportation on weekends since September 2020. In 2021, this policy was extended to working days for under 18 years of age and over 65 years of age.

Further extension of this scheme is part of the city's 150 million euros effort to achieve zero carbon mobility, which also includes investing in bicycle lanes and the creation of low-emission zones.

To be able to enjoy this free transportation service, Montpellier residents can register to get free transport tickets on the M'Ticket app and the TAM website. Identity photos and proof of address are needed.

The entrance ticket will then be available on your smartphone and must be validated every time you take a bus and tram.

Mayor Delafosse said this initiative was part of "European commitment to climate and purchasing power".

"We have formed an association to help other European mayors make the same choices," he said.

It is known, with a population of about 500,000 people, Montpellier lost to other cities in France that have implemented similar schemes, since transportation management in the country was decentralized in 2015.

But most of the population is less than 150,000. With nearly 200,000 residents, Dunkirk is the largest city that has so far implemented free transportation.

In total, 39 regions in France have similar schemes, including Aubagne on the outskirts of Marseille, the port city ofIL, and the west of Niort's communal.

Montpellier will be the largest city to adopt such a scheme so far. What about Paris? This scheme is considered not easy to emulate the largest city in France which relies heavily on transportation ticket revenue.

If several cities are middle, tickets represent only 10 percent of transportation funding, according to Vie-public. While major cities such as Paris, Lyon and Marseille, the figure ranges from 25 to 40 percent.

These cities will most likely continue to choose some free access to low-income transportation, such as the younger generation, the elderly, and unemployment.

For example, in the French capital, free transportation for children under 18 was introduced in 2020 to help students return to school. Nantes introduced free weekend travel in 2021. And in 2021, the Occitane region in southern France conducted a trial offering 30 free train trips per month for children aged 18 to 26 years.

In total, more than 50 major and small cities in Europe have now introduced free public transportation, taking into account climate ambitions and social equality as their main motivation.