In America a large minority foams at the mouth arguing against free education, while in Luxembourg... https://www.euronews.com/green/2023...ublic-transport-free-heres-what-happened-next The world’s richest country made public transport free: Here’s what happened next Luxembourg introduced free public transport in 2020. - Copyright Canva By Angela Symons with AFP • 23/03/2023 - 09:21 Luxembourg became the first country in the world to scrap fares on all public transport in 2020. Three years later, residents are filled with praise for the scheme. The system allows them to "travel easily", as well as being "very positive for the environment", some say. For others, the popular system has come to be seen as a "fundamental right". Here’s how the free transport scheme works and has been received. Why did Luxembourg introduce free transport? The scheme was partially introduced to curb the country’s car problem. In 2020, Luxembourg had the highest car density in the EU: 696 per 1,000 people versus the average 560. The country suffers bad traffic and high levels of climate-heating emissions as a result. Residents say that free transport encourages them to leave their cars at home. "Since it's free, it's easier to make a decision quickly, to choose between public transport or private car," says accountant Edgar Bisenius. "This means that it is very positive for the environment and practical." However, some say cars still rule the roads. "The culture of the car is still very present and it is still quite complicated to attract people from the car to public transport," says Merlin Gillard, a researcher specialising in public transport. As the scheme was introduced during the COVID pandemic, measuring its impact has been tricky. Data from elsewhere suggests the sustainability impact of free transport may be minimal. Since introducing free public transport in 2013, Estonia’s capital Tallinn has seen a rise in car use. The social impact of cost-saving is thought to be more significant. Showing appreciation for this element, Luxembourg teacher Ben Dratwicki says, "This is a good initiative, it favours the public sector, it strengthens the public sector." In his eyes, the system has become cemented as an entitlement. "Transport is a fundamental right for residents. If you have the right to work, you also have the right to get to work without too many costs." How does Luxembourg’s free transport scheme work? Since 29 February 2020, all forms of public transport - including buses, trains and trams - have been free for residents and tourists alike. The scheme applies throughout the entire country and passengers need only buy a ticket if they wish to travel first class. Ticket revenue previously stood at €41 million per year in Luxembourg - a fraction of the more-than €500 million running cost of the country’s entire public transport system. The deficit is made up primarily by higher tax payers. "It's a considerable cost, but… it's paid by all taxpayers," explains François Bausch, Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister. “There's more equity there because obviously those who pay little taxes pay nothing or very little in this system. And those who pay more taxes… have a price tag that may be a little bit higher." As a result, investment in the country’s transport system has not slowed. The new tram system is regular and reliable, unhindered by traffic. The country has made record investments in improving its rail network. Is Luxembourg well connected to the rest of Europe? Luxembourg is well connected to other parts of Europe by public transport. The country has cross-border connections with France via TGV. Paris is just two hours away by train. It is also connected with Germany via high-speed ICE trains. Trains run from Luxembourg City to Brussels in Belgium every hour and to Liège every two hours. Residents living in border towns also benefit from the free transport scheme. "This allows all border residents, especially those from Belgium, Germany and France, to travel easily," says temporary worker Gauthier Moumkama. "And in addition, it is a good form of freedom. We don't have this in France. There are fewer controllers, there is less hassle." However, since the scheme does not apply across the border, its positive impact on mobility is limited to those who can afford to live in the world’s richest country. "There are many people who live outside Luxembourg who cannot afford housing and who also have to pay for transport," says Gillard. "So it's redistributive but only to a certain extent."
Public transportation is expected to be funded by the taxpayers as the fares charged are a hope to get some money back to reduce the burden on the budget. removing the fares is same as just increasing spending by 10% as the numbers in Luxenborg show. The benefits of goodwill, removing some cars off the road, making the lower and middle class more able to work is expected to outweight the extra spending. Education is quite different. You need to take the subway to get to a job or move around a major city. Higher education has community colleges, federal and private loans for in state colleges, online universities. Everyone should have the priviledge of a college university but everyone does not have a right to go to Syracuse and pay $80,000 a year. One thing often overlooked in the U.S. is that everyone who wants to get a college degree has a way to do so with all the options that now exist as I mentioned. People with little resources should not be hung up on going to a major private school to pay $60,000 a year and the government should assist by encouraging the use of cheaper options. For example, 4 years at Goerge Washington Univeristy is $240,000 with NO financial aid. 4 years at George Mason Univeristy (in-state) is $62,000 with NO financial aid (both schools offer most students financial aid but lets use gross numbers). For most of Middle Class america they are choosing the wrong schools and complaining about the debt.
Offering free transportation may work in Luxembourg -- a tiny wealthy country of 19.87 mi² in size and a population of a mere 661,700. A country that is smaller than most large cities. This model of free transportation is not really transferable and workable in other countries -- simply considering all the locations, land mass and sheer numbers of people that would need to be covered.
i think most public trans in the us is subsidized heavily by taxpayers already. if they ran like a profitable or break even business they would have to eliminate many routes that get few riders and bus drivers wouldn't be making 80k a year.
It will be dismissed as impossible in the US as public transport is seen as for the poor outside subways which are a necessary evil.
You would compare that country to a large US city for a fairer evaluation, imo. Something that captures wealth over area, like tax receipts per acre.
I mean, if you think suburban or rural America doesn't deserve free transportation sure. Over NYC burrows (I think per capita income is comparable but median not even close) edit: scratch that, I don't think per capita is even close either.
Yet -- every major U.S. city -- despite already using heavy subsidization of public transit -- has transit systems which are not doing very well, fail to go to many areas of the city, usually have low ridership (per population) and has funding issues. A more fair comparison on a "country-wide" initiative would be to Germany and other nearby European countries. Most of these countries would state very clearly that their local, regional, and national public transit systems could not provide the services for free to all the customers (and they already have heavy government subsidization).