A thread for discussions on free or near-free evidence-based PT research.
The impact of fare-free public transport on travel behavior: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial ($)
Regional Science and Urban Economics
Volume 86, January 2021, 103616
Authors: Owen Bull, Juan Carlos Muñoz, Hugo E. Silva
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2020.103616
We investigate the impact of fare-free public transport on travel behavior by randomly assigning a pass to workers in Santiago (Chile). The pass allowed them unlimited travel for two weeks, as opposed to paying the regular fare of approximately US$ 1 per trip. The main impact of fare-free public transport is an increase in overall travel of 12%.
Finally, we find that having access to a fare-free public transport system did not have an impact on car trips. In particular, we did not find a significant effect on total car trips in the two-week treatment period, on car trips made during peak periods, or on car trips to travel to work or return home. Therefore, we find no evidence that fare-free public transport decreases negative externalities or that it increases public transport crowding during peak periods.
So a 12% increase in trip generation when fares were set to zero. Therefore, a smaller fare discount less than 100% would likely lead to an even smaller trip generation. The 12% result is similar to the ~ 15% result seen in the QLD Governments 50c fares policy.
Off-peak Fridays trial made no difference - Transport for London
Tom Edwards
Transport correspondent, London • @BBCTomEdwards
No noticeable difference in patronage when fares were free before 9.00 am on Fridays, and off-peak discount applied to the whole Friday.
Notes
Transport for London (2024), Off-peak Friday fares, Our trial of off-peak fares on London’s transport network between 8 March and 31 May 2024
offpeakfridaystrialreportacc.pdf (4.9 MB)
Queensland 50c fares and fines
