Would you park your car for a free bus ride?
After petrol prices hit record highs and traffic jams snaked across Germany this Easter, Leipzig made its public transport free for four days this week, but will it get more people out of their cars in the long run? Have your say.
In a bid to get people out of their cars and onto the bus, tram or train, Leipzig is the first city in Germany to run the ambitious campaign, which they have called “Down with the Petrol Price Insanity - Time to Switch.”
For the rest of the week, people can present a car registration form instead of a ticket and get on buses, trains and trams across the city.
The city says the public transport on offer is a viable alternative to the expense of running a car, not to mention traffic jams and environmental considerations.
But is the tram a replacement for a car? Critics might say that a few free days of travel will not be enough to get car owners to leave the privacy and practicality of their own four wheels – especially when faced with delays and bad weather.
Could free public transport get you out of your car? How good would the buses, trams and trains have to be - and how much would you be prepared to pay, either via taxes or for tickets? Have your say below.
Registered users of The Local may add their comments in the field below. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can do so here – it’s free and only takes a moment.
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In a bid to get people out of their cars and onto the bus, tram or train, Leipzig is the first city in Germany to run the ambitious campaign, which they have called “Down with the Petrol Price Insanity - Time to Switch.”
For the rest of the week, people can present a car registration form instead of a ticket and get on buses, trains and trams across the city.
The city says the public transport on offer is a viable alternative to the expense of running a car, not to mention traffic jams and environmental considerations.
But is the tram a replacement for a car? Critics might say that a few free days of travel will not be enough to get car owners to leave the privacy and practicality of their own four wheels – especially when faced with delays and bad weather.
Could free public transport get you out of your car? How good would the buses, trams and trains have to be - and how much would you be prepared to pay, either via taxes or for tickets? Have your say below.
Registered users of The Local may add their comments in the field below. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can do so here – it’s free and only takes a moment.
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