A-Infos (en) UK, ACG, Jackdaw 22 - Free public transport: Fighting climate change and social inequality (ca, de, it, pt, tr) [machine translation]

Fighting climate change is a big task. It is all very well saying we 
need to end capitalism, which we do, but what steps can be taken to put 
ourselves in the position to actually do this? This requires engaging in 
campaigns that motivate people to take action on issues that affect 
them. This then not only brings tangible benefits in the here and now 
but helps build up the confidence to take further action. So why a free 
public transport campaign? ---- Transport is a basic necessity of life; 
we have to use it to get to work, go shopping, socialise, or engage in 
political activity. This is true both in cities and in the countryside, 
where people often have to travel long distances to get to work or 
access facilities.
Over the years, the car has become a main form of transport causing 
congestion and air and noise pollution. Cars are also one of the causes 
of climate change. It is argued that electric cars are proposed as a 
solution, but this does not solve the problems of congestion, space and 
safety. Cars demand roads and parking, to the detriment of having space 
for children (and adults!) to play.  And, electric cars are not a 
solution to climate change in any case (see above).  Therefore, for a 
number of reasons, public transport is the way forward.
However, there are many problems with the current transport system that 
means the car continues to be the favoured option, often the only 
option, for many. Public transport in the cities is crowded and often 
expensive. Fares go up year after year. With the increase in house 
prices and rents, people have to move further and further away from 
their place of work and end up paying a large proportion of their income 
on just getting to work. In the rural areas, transport is infrequent and 
inconvenient and therefore people are forced to rely on a car. 
Government policy favours the car and is unduly influenced by the roads 
lobby. There needs to be a major change in policy. There is no point in 
making people feel guilty for using a car. The alternative of public 
transport needs to be made convenient, efficient, comfortable, and free.
Transport is a universal need
Public transport should be free because it is a public good. It is 
something that everyone has to use, like the health service. And, if any 
form of car has major disadvantages for people and the planet, then 
public transport is the answer and needs to be supported with funds.
This is not an idealistic or impossible demand, even in the current 
capitalist system. It is a question of building an effective movement 
which forces changes in policy. Many places already have free transport. 
Public transport is free in the whole of Luxemburg and Malta and Tallinn 
(capital of Estonia). Many towns and cities in France, Brazil, Poland, 
and the USA already have totally free public transport. In parts of 
India millions of women travel free on buses.
 It is a demand that unites all the working class- both urban and 
rural- so should galvanise a lot of support.
United front with workers
It is important to make a united front with transport workers. Too often 
the users have been brainwashed into blaming the workers for their 
problems. There needs to be a common front. Better pay and conditions 
for transport workers, more staff on trains, buses and in stations means 
a better service. And, expanding the transport system to accommodate the 
increase in users will provide jobs in manufacturing, with the 
production of green transport, such as electric buses.
This demand needs to be taken up by climate change activists as a step 
that we can take now and one that will gain support from a variety of 
people since it also has economic and social benefits.
Fair-Free London
Fair-Free London is an example of the kind of campaign we need 
everywhere. It places the demand within the context of both the 
ecological crisis and social justice.  "Free public transport, 
introduced together as part of an integrated transport policy can help 
rapidly to cut the number of private cars, vans and HGVs on the roads - 
and so cut greenhouse gas emissions, and the air pollution that kills 
thousands of Londoners each year. London is falling behind its own weak 
climate targets, and even further behind targets worked out by climate 
scientists. The transport sector has made the least progress in 
cutting fossil fuel use over the last twenty years. Free public 
transport could start to reverse this dangerous trend. Free public 
transport cuts across the dangerous populist rhetoric that tackling 
climate change costs ordinary people money. It shows that the opposite 
is true: measures to deal with climate change and air pollution can also 
make life better."

See: https://www.farefreelondon.org/aims

https://www.anarchistcommunism.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/jackdaw_D.pdf
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