Smith calls on Government to invest in free, frequent public transport

People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith has said that data from RED C in a report commissioned by the Department of Transport shows that the government should invest in free, frequent, and green public transport.

Data from RED C shows that 60% of people polled are willing to change how they travel to reduce carbon emissions; 90% of people surveyed would swap car for short journey for walking, cycling or public transport; and 67% would cut back on car usage if confidence in public transport improves.

Commenting on the data, Bríd Smith said “this report from the Department of Transport and RED C provides very welcome data as it shows that a majority of people want to get out of their cars in order to reduce emissions; 90% of people would swap the car for walking, cycling or public transport; and 67% would take public transport if they felt it would be reliable.”

“This data shows clearly that the government should invest what is needed in Budget 2024 to bring in free, frequent, and green public transport.

“People are telling the government that they want to get out of their cars and participate in the green transition. They want to have confidence in the public transport system. The government needs to take heed of this data and make an epoch-defining investment in free, frequent, and green train and bus system, along with walking and cycling infrastructure, so that people can play their part in the transition to a sustainable economy where emissions and congestion are reduced.”

Smith’s calls for free or heavily subsidised public transport have already been put into practice in Spain and Germany, with the leftist Spanish government introducing a scheme in August 2022 that made short and medium-distance rail journeys free until the end of 2023 in an incentive to get commuters to use public transport.

Germany’s “traffic light” coalition, made up of the social-democratic SPD, Green Party, and the pro-business FDP are drafting up plans to make all public transport across Germany €49 a month, which would cover all bus, train, metro and tram services across the nation.