1. ‘Free’ public transport in the Netherlands Sebastiaan van der Vliet

2. Contents Introduction Costs Benefits Effects Conclusions Recommendations 28-9-20163

3. There is no such a thing a a free lunch => who pays? Main question: are social benefits of ‘free’ PT larger than the costs? Case studies, based on welfare economic theory 28-9-20164

4. Some observations PT = very safe (56 x safer than car) PT = environmental friendly (3.2) PT = spatial efficient (10) PT = economic efficient (€2.000) PT ≠ door to door PT = hevily subsidised (40% cost recovery) So: more PT and less care use = good for society Is ‘free’ PT a possibility? 28-9-20165

5. 2 kinds of FFPT ‘free’ PT for target groups (65+, 12-, commuters, visitors of city centres) ‘free’ PT for all 28-9-20166

6. Costs Direct costs Less / no income out of ticket sales More vehicles and more staff Implementation costs External costs More pollution More accidents More congestion More noise More parking 28-9-20167

7. Benefits Direct benefits Larger consumer surplus Less / no transaction costs More income out of ticket sales More income out of advertising Indirect benefits Image improvement (city, PT company) Safer PT Less loneliness in society 28-9-20168

8. Benefits (2) External benefits Less air pollution Less accidents Less noice Less congestion Less wear and tear of roads More economic activities Long run: larger spatial concentration of cities 28-9-20169

9. Passenger growth 28-9-2016 10

10. Substitution of bike 28-9-201611

11. Substitution of car 28-9-201612

12. Example Tilburg 28-9-201613

13. Some results StadKostenBatenGemiddeld Saldo Tilburg € 480,000 + PM € 1,301,395+ PM € 821.395 + PM Eindhoven € 448,331 + PM € 873,122 + PM € 424.746 + PM Rotterdam € 2,947,000 + PM € 2,534,961 + PM € -412.039 + PM Delft € 406,075 + PM € 409,550 + PM € 3.476 + PM Dordrecht € 120,000 + PMNon monetisable ? Leiden – Den Haag € 975,379 + PM € 906,300 + PM € -69.079 + PM Hasselt€671.176 + PM€1.532.658 + PM € 861.482 + PM 28-9-201614

14. Complete FFPT in Rotterdam Costs: €150 million Benefits: €250 – €337 million Cost benefit paradox: costs for municipality, benefits for society 28-9-201615

15. Conclusions FFPT, more benefits than costs? Always if: Enough capacity (empy chairs) Low implementation costs Target group elderly people scores well FFPT as part of integrated transport policy Hard to forecast effects 28-9-201616

16. Recomendations Implementation in phases Monitoring is important FFPT as part of integrated transport policy Research to long run effects Research to large scale FFPT initiatives 28-9-201617

17. ‘Free’ public transport in Eindhoven Renske Nollen

18. ‘Free’ public transport in Eindhoven 2007: Experiment was launched, ‘free’ bus transport for 12- and 65+. End of 2007: Experiment continued and supplemented with 3 lines. 2008: ‘Free’ bus transport integrated in Eindhoven City Pass. Juli 2013: ‘Free’ bus transport abolished for regional City Pass holders. 2014: ‘Free’ bus transport abolished for 12- and 65+, replaced by ‘free’ bus transport for minimum income. 28-9-201619

19. Objectives ‘Free’ bus transport for 12- and 65+ 1.More people should use bus instead of car 2.Better use of regular public transport facilities 3.Making elderly more mobile 4.Making children more acquainted with the bus and public transport 5.Improving the image of public transportation ‘Free’ bus transport for minimum income 1.Poverty reduction 28-9-201620

20. Eindhoven mobility policy Strategic goals for 2040 1.Sustainable mobility 2.More walking, cycling and public transport 3.Less motorized traffic within the ring road 28-9-201621

21. Aim of my research “To what extent will ‘free’ bus transport in Eindhoven, in the old and new situation, achieve relevant strategic goals for 2040, described in the current mobility policy?” 28-9-201622

22. Results previous studies Evaluation 2008 Passenger increase of 82% in the target group 65+ 13% new travelers 37% make less use of cars in the target group 65+ Evaluation 2011 Passenger increase of 90% in the target group 65+ In 2007, 35% of the elderly never use the bus, in 2011 only 11% 75% make less use of cars in the target group 65+ 28-9-201623