cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/3264067
From autumn 2025, drivers in Aarhus can travel for free by light rail and bus during rush hour if they park at the Park and Ride facility at Klokhøjen.
This is stated in a press release by Midttrafik, which together with Aarhus Municipality is behind the pilot trial.
The trial will test whether free travel by light rail can motivate more drivers to leave their cars and continue their journey by public transport, with the aim of reducing congestion and car traffic in the city centre.
Drivers can collect a free ticket via the Rejsebillet app at Klokhøjen. The trial will run until the end of 2026.
One step forward, one step backwards. Somehow, Denmark manages to make public transportation benefit only the people who need it the least.
Ideally it would be free for everybody, but this seems like a good idea, at least as a test project. Driving is so easy and convenient, there needs to be a pretty big incentive to get people out of their cars voluntarily or else they’re never going to do it.
People that are already taking transit know all about transit. People that are always driving usually don’t have any clue, so of course you want to cater to them specifically.
In theory, but they could just make it free for everyone during rush hour. It is effectively punishing people who don’t have a car.
