Leipzig (Germany) offers free public transport for four days

CIE

The Local

Citing high petrol prices, traffic jams and greenhouse gas emissions as deterrents to taking cars to work, local bus, rail and tram service providers banded together to offer what they called a better option to commuters. …

During the promotion called "Down with the Petrol Price Insanity - Time to Switch," drivers and their family members can present a car registration instead of a bus or rail ticket. …

Think this might spark demand for such an offer in Irish cities?

bk

CIE wrote: »

The LocalThink this might spark demand for such an offer in Irish cities?

DB did this once in the past, it was a disaster IMO as the bus ended up full of undesirables (much more then normal) out to explore Dublin for the day. Was pretty chaotic and would turn most normal people off public transport.

CIE

bk wrote: »

DB did this once in the past, it was a disaster IMO as the bus ended up full of undesirables (much more then normal) out to explore Dublin for the day. Was pretty chaotic and would turn most normal people off public transport.

That's sad. Poor comment on society in that case.

The same problems might ensue if in lieu of fare a car reg was produced, then?

Vic_08

Perhaps if Billions of € of Irish taxpayers' money hadn't been gifted to German financial institutions we could afford to do such a thing.

mikemac1

Isn't there a car free day every year

I definitely remember those a few years ago

And the council will close off certain streets and public transport is free

It happens all across the EU, it's not just an Irish event

stop

bk wrote: »

DB did this once in the past, it was a disaster IMO as the bus ended up full of undesirables (much more then normal) out to explore Dublin for the day. Was pretty chaotic and would turn most normal people off public transport.

I remember that, poor Sandymount was full of such people, can only imagine where they came from..

Cookie_Monster

Vic_08 wrote: »

Perhaps if Billions of € of Irish taxpayers' money hadn't been gifted to German financial institutions we could afford to do such a thing.

and perhaps if the even more billions of annual budget deficet was tackled we could too...

Knowing how it's be done here it'd just be a free for all mess, with no stipulations and generated the above mentioned problems.

CIE

I had a second look at this story, and I was left wondering why Leipzig needs to do this. Could their transport system be bad enough that people won't eschew driving to use it merely on its merits? Capacity problems? Image problems?

Cookie_Monster

possibly because it's a great way of advertising. for a cost of 4 days fares they get lots and lots of publicity and a long term increase in fares. They've obviously deceded the predicted long term uptake is worth the short term cost.

AlekSmart

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

possibly because it's a great way of advertising. for a cost of 4 days fares they get lots and lots of publicity and a long term increase in fares. They've obviously deceded the predicted long term uptake is worth the short term cost.

Them bloody Germans and their Long-Termism.....lets see where that gets 'em.....if we can wait that long !!!

markpb

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

possibly because it's a great way of advertising. for a cost of 4 days fares they get lots and lots of publicity and a long term increase in fares. They've obviously deceded the predicted long term uptake is worth the short term cost.

I don't think the cost of public transport is what keeps people away in Dublin - it's the level of service. It's already significantly cheaper than driving for most people but a lot of people are willing to pay the extra to drive because the overall experience is better. I'm a huge advocate of public transport but there's absolutely no-one I know who would be faster taking the bus/Luas to work than driving and that's why, in an office only six minutes walk from the green Luas line, less than 5% here take public transport.

CIE

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

possibly because it's a great way of advertising. for a cost of 4 days fares they get lots and lots of publicity and a long term increase in fares. They've obviously deceded the predicted long term uptake is worth the short term cost.

Doesn't seem all that clever. If their reputation precedes them, no amount of free rides for a short duration will change people's habits; and it's the people's habits they're trying to change.

crushproof

There was signalling faults on the train lines here in Queensland last month, causing delays of up to 90 minutes for commuters.
The operator, Translink, announced free travel for everyone the following day, so free journeys throughout the state on bus, train and ferries.
They lost up to $1 million but it was certainly a good gesture to the travelling public.

Onthe3rdDay

CIE wrote: »

I had a second look at this story, and I was left wondering why Leipzig needs to do this. Could their transport system be bad enough that people won't eschew driving to use it merely on its merits? Capacity problems? Image problems?

Have used that service a good few times, Once you work out how it works it's fantastic. Runs on time and clean (compared to here!)

coylemj

bk wrote: »

DB did this once in the past, it was a disaster IMO as the bus ended up full of undesirables (much more then normal) out to explore Dublin for the day. Was pretty chaotic and would turn most normal people off public transport.

+1 If there was a free bus day I would deliberately avoid DB and either walk or drive.

Half price, maybe. Free? Forget it.

I worked in a company once where there was a subsidised canteen, the food was so cheap it was as good as free but there was a tight-arsed prick in the office and the only day in the year he ever went to the canteen was for the free Christmas lunch and yes, the gravy was always too salty and there was never enough sherry in the trifle.

Nobody appreciates what they get for nothing.

CIE

Onthe3rdDay wrote: »

Have used that service a good few times, Once you work out how it works it's fantastic. Runs on time and clean (compared to here!)

So why are the natives eschewing it for driving? One would think that higher petrol prices would mean no advertising needed.

Onthe3rdDay

CIE wrote: »

So why are the natives eschewing it for driving? One would think that higher petrol prices would mean no advertising needed.

It's a bit bizarre actually, the natives appear to use the public transport system, there is car use but nothing like here. They also walk more and bikes are a normal part of life for many. Most people I know there have a car (or access to a car) but only use them at weekends or picking up a big item from a shop.

Obviously there are always some that don't need to drive and will still take the car everywhere, but they're never going to use public transport.

Joko

Dublin does offer free public transport, DublinBikes


I was in Manchester and they do a free city centre bus service.

OssianSmyth

markpb wrote: »

there's absolutely no-one I know who would be faster taking the bus/Luas to work than driving and that's why, in an office only six minutes walk from the green Luas line, less than 5% here take public transport.

Free parking at your office?

markpb

OssianSmyth wrote: »

Free parking at your office?

Yup but even when the car park was full, people still drove and paid to park nearby. I won't argue it's not a factor though.