Nations and Cities with Free Public Transport

Luxembourg - First country in the world to offer nationwide free public transport (since March 2020). Applies to all trains, trams, and buses. Free for residents and visitors alike.

Tallinn (Capital of Estonia) - First European capital to introduce free public transit for residents (2013). Non-residents still pay.

France

  • Dunkirk – Entire bus network is free.

  • Aubagne (near Marseille) – Free since 2009.

  • Niort, Châteauroux, Compiègne, and Calais have adopted free systems.

  • Over 30 French cities now have fare-free public transport.

Germany

  • Templin – Free for residents since the early 1990s.

  • Germany also introduced a €49/month nationwide ticket 

Ljubljana (capital of Slovenia) offers free rides for seniors, disabled, and students.

Madrid & Barcelona (Spain) – Offer free or heavily discounted transit passes for youth and seniors.

Spain - In response to energy crises, Spain began offering free commuter and regional train travel nationwide (conditions apply).

Houten (Netherlands) – While not fully free, it's heavily subsidized and bike-friendly, promoting nearly car-free life.

United States

  • Kansas City, Missouri – First major U.S. city to make its entire bus system free (since 2020).

  • Olympia, Washington – Intercity Transit is fully fare-free.

  • Missoula, Montana – Free for all riders.

  • Duluth, Minnesota – Piloting fare-free service.

  • Columbia, South Carolina – Free buses.

  • Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Free transit for over a decade.

  • Several university towns (e.g., Ithaca, NY, and Madison, WI) also offer free transit for students and sometimes all riders.

Maricá (Brazil) – Entire municipal bus system is free. Many other Brazilian cities have partial or experimental fare-free routes.

Delhi (India) – Offers free metro and bus travel for women, part of a safety and equality initiative.

Changning District (Shanghai, China) – Pilot zones with fare-free shuttles. Some small towns offer free intra-village buses.

Notes & Trends

More than 100 cities worldwide have introduced some form of fare-free public transport.

Many are doing so to: Combat climate change, Reduce traffic congestion, Promote social equity, Funding typically comes from municipal taxes, parking fees, or national subsidies.