At Time Out, we’re big ol’ fans of public transport – it’s the easiest way to navigate a new city, and when you’re trying to get around, it’s of course the kindest method to our planet. But the daily cost of it does add up, and in some cities it can amount to quite a lot.
Not in Montpellier though. The charming city in the south of France has just made public transport entirely free – for residents, that is.
From last night, December 21, those who reside in the city were able to board buses and trams without paying for a ticket, provided they had a transport pass. The introduction of the scheme follows the likes of Tallinn and Luxembourg, where transport for residents became free in 2013 and 2020 respectively. Pretty cool, right?
It’s all thanks to Michael Delafosse, the city's socialist mayor who made free public transport part of his 2020 election promise. Free rides became available on weekends not long after his success, followed by an extension to week-long access for those under 18 and over 65.
The initiative is all the more impressive when you consider residents accounted for 90 percent of the €39 million (£33 million, $43 million) spent on tickets in 2022. 86,000 people had paid subscriptions to the pass, but that tripled to 260,000 after the announcement of the launch of the free version, according to AFP.
So, how is the city managing it? Well, a transport tax that applies to any company with more than 11 employees is helping to cover the cost, and tourists will still have to pay too. But don’t worry, transport in Montpellier hardly costs a bomb – a single journey ticket costs just €1.60 (£1.40, $1.70).
Making public transport more accessible for locals has got to only be positive. The news follows the launch of super-affordable rail passes in France, Germany and Portugal this year.
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