It’s official: from December 21, 2023, all public transport in the Montpellier metropolitan area will become free for all inhabitants, all the time. Light on an ambitious measure whose ambition is to relegate cars to the background and, therefore, to preserve the environment and the climate.
This decision, voted on February 2, 2023 by the Metropolitan Council, is a logical continuation of the previous measures. France Blue recalls in particular that buses and trams have already been free every weekend since 2020 and that this free access had already been extended in September 2021 to the rest of the week for those over 65 and under 18.
According to various estimates, the introduction of this free service could cost between 29 and 42 million euros per year to the community (note that public transport will remain chargeable for external visitors and tourists). A significant sum, therefore, but assumed.
Quoted by Toulouse newspaperMichel Delafosse, President of the Metropolitan Area of Montpellier, recalls the objectives pursued by such a choice: “reduce CO2 emissions”, “improve the purchasing power of families”, “reinforce the attractiveness of local shops” et “better redistribute the tax of Montpellier residents who pay for their transport several times over”.
In total, 491,000 people will be able to travel free of charge on a daily basis. Montpellier, as pointed out The Parisianshould thus become “the largest free transport network in Europe.”
