FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT Hasselt from the beginning to the end Summer School Tallinn 22 – 24 August 2013 Marc Verachtert, General Manager

Content of this presentation Introduction of Hasselt Free Public Transport –How it started –Facts and figures –The end … –The future …

Hasselt Northern / Flemish part of Belgium Capital of Limburg ± inhabitants 102,24 km²

Shopping & fashion ( visitors/week. 4th important centre Belgium) Employment (122% number of inhabitants y) Education ( pupils & students) Music festivals, events, … Hasselt

Hasselt - Infrastructure Easy accessible from other cities in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, France, … Decades long: priority for cars

Hasselt - Infrastructure 1990: –Need for a third ring road !? => attack on nature / rural area => Impossible high budget => delay of traffic problems –Better solution: Stimulating smart mobility (walkability, biking, public transport)  Starting in the city centre

Public transport Free since July 1997 –Starting with shuttle busses –The entire network Same time: –Redesigning the network –More comfort / quality

Free Public Transport

YearUsers / yearTimes more ,28 more ,08 more ,16 more ,90 more ,56 more

Free Public Transport Profile –16% car drivers/-users to bus –12 % bikers to bus –9 % pedestrians to bus  63% more persons mobile by offering free public transport

Free Public Transport  63% more persons mobile –Newcomers –‘one car’ or ‘no car’ family’s, –elderly people, children, –… Social aspect HospitalMarket Untill ,25%33,90% With Free Public Transport 73,75%66,10%

Free Public Transport Agreement: Hasselt pay’s tickets / actual and expected local cost coverage –Cost coverage 89 > 75% regional government –11 > 25% Hasselt (= cost coverage) of about 2 % of the city budget YearTotal cost Public Transport % cost coverage Flanders % cost coverage Hasselt € to be paid by Hasselt % 11% % 23% % 25% % 25%

Free Public Transport Individual Advantages / Benefits –Mobility Safe(r) mobility –Health Reduced air pollution Reduced number of accidents –Financial Reduce car use and / or the need to own a car Save money –Quality of life / Social aspect Meet & greet neighbours and others –…/…

Free Public Transport Governmental Advantages / Benefits –Optimized accessibility & mobility –Quality standard cityscaping Reduced need for caracces and parking's Additional space for trees / green spots –Reduced cost for maintenance Less road maintenance Less restoration needed to buildings and monuments –Less investments for infrastructure No need to build an increasing number of parking's and car-sized roads and squares –…/…

HASSELT CHANGES MOBILITY Pedestrian friendly –Pedestrian zones, short cuts,.. Pro bicycle –Bike hotspots: rent a bike, guarded bicycle parking (free) –Bike oriented society and companies Last mile delivery, Urban Freight Terminal: CityDepot Car sharing Link with a Light rail to other cities

Free Public Transport Mobility behaviour 15 years later Still a high use of private motorised transport –Car possession (91,1%) –2,8 transfers/day (31,6 km) Not a complete success for public transport

Free Public Transport ? Local elections 2012: discussion on FPT –Open VLD (liberal) & N-VA (centre-right): against FPT –CD&V (Christian democratic) willing to ask small contribution –SP.A (social democratic) & Groen (green): like continuation of FPT New city council: SP.A & Groen together with CD&V –Need to cut costs (and raise income) because of economical crisis and redirecting tasks from national and regional government to local government. –De Lijn increases the contribution for Hasselt with 65 % (2.8 m versus 1.8 m) No longer Free Public Transport in Hasselt

Free Public Transport De Lijn Flanders: Most years increase of passengers, but permanent decrease of cost coverage. Need for cost cuts and more/new incomes. Year% cost coverage tickets % cost coverage Flanders % 68% % 72.2% % 86.3% % 87.13%

Free Public Transport ? New contract proposal for Hasselt: –FPT can be continued, but the contribution to be paid is + 65 % for Decision city council starting End of Free Public Transport –Compensation for reduced ticket price for inhabitants (60 eurocent/fare) and free tickets for youngster (-19). –Senior people (+65) and low incomers are still travelling for free all over Flanders (Flanders regulation).

Free Public Transport Not anymore in Hasselt Expectations: –Brussels stopped free public transport for persons had a free subscription are still travelling for free (OMNIO, really low income) only persons (29%) paid a 60 euro ‘solidarity contribution’ for the next year that offers permanent use of public transport. PT believers / hopes that their will be a switch to separate fare tickets.

(Free?) Public Transport For a better future Impact of public transport on mobility, health, safety, environment, budget, … has to be investigated. Task for a EU- institute or cooperation?! Need to share experiences in good, best or even next practices.