Dunkirk lets people ride the bus for free, people are happy

[Blue Lives Matter More]

I like how this attempt to spread good cheer by cheering other people became a bloody morass of selfishness in a few pages. Way to go, NSG.

It wouldn't be NSG otherwise, no?

Regarding OP, will this be the Pepsi can the Yellow Vests need? I think so.

[Duhon]

Right... The imposition of some American libertarian's views on an issue relating to the French city of Dunkerque's buses... Anyway...

This would be reasonable if it came from someone who didn't operate on the explicitly stated belief that French views were objectively correct...

This would be reasonable if anyone from Dunkirk is complaining about where their taxes are going.

[Valrifell]

I like how this attempt to spread good cheer by cheering other people became a bloody morass of selfishness in a few pages. Way to go, NSG.

It wouldn't be NSG otherwise, no?

Regarding OP, will this be the Pepsi can the Yellow Vests need? I think so.

I hate that I understand this.

Also it probably won't be, the Yellow Vests are primarily in Paris (as all good rioting Frenchmen are) so they will not be placated.

[Telconi]

This would be reasonable if it came from someone who didn't operate on the explicitly stated belief that French views were objectively correct...

This would be reasonable if anyone from Dunkirk is complaining about where their taxes are going.

I imagine someone in Dunkirk is. But, it really isn't functional to how reasonable my post was.

[Blue Lives Matter More]

It wouldn't be NSG otherwise, no?

Regarding OP, will this be the Pepsi can the Yellow Vests need? I think so.

I hate that I understand this.

Also it probably won't be, the Yellow Vests are primarily in Paris (as all good rioting Frenchmen are) so they will not be placated.

Can't wait for the Gilets Jaunes or whatever to storm the Bastille French Parliament, only to see Macron has had a change of heart and is letting all citizens of France ride the bus for free.

[Olerand]

Right... The imposition of some American libertarian's views on an issue relating to the French city of Dunkerque's buses... Anyway...

This would be reasonable if it came from someone who didn't operate on the explicitly stated belief that French views were objectively correct...

As I have explained numerous times, to you, to others, and to you again; I correctly call Republicans far-right because they are far-right everywhere in the developed world. I didn't make it so, they did.

If I applied French standards everywhere, I would label the British Conservatives, who support economically liberal policies that no political party in France supports, hard or radical right. But I don't. They're just right. We lean left economically and socially, Britain leans right, and they're still on the right.
Republicans are far-right, and that is by their design, and through the standards of every other developed country. I didn't make it so, so no point in complaining to me about it.

What I refuse to do is to apply American metrics to everyone else. When something is far-right everywhere, it's far-right everywhere.

[Kalosia]

Is it weird that I almost want to fly to Dunkirk just to try the public transportation?

I love the idea of this and hope more cities can adopt this concept, though I know it'll never happen where I live. We pay to get on the commuter train and even then it's so crowded, it makes a tin of sardines feel like vast, empty space.

[Olerand]

Is it weird that I almost want to fly to Dunkirk just to try the public transportation?

I love the idea of this and hope more cities can adopt this concept, though I know it'll never happen where I live. We pay to get on the commuter train and even then it's so crowded, it makes a tin of sardines feel like vast, empty space.

It is quite weird to want to go to Dunkerque yes.

[Alvecia]

Is it weird that I almost want to fly to Dunkirk just to try the public transportation?

I love the idea of this and hope more cities can adopt this concept, though I know it'll never happen where I live. We pay to get on the commuter train and even then it's so crowded, it makes a tin of sardines feel like vast, empty space.

It is quite weird to want to go to Dunkerque yes.

Got to imagine it's got some pull as a historical locale.

[Petrolheadia]

This would be reasonable if it came from someone who didn't operate on the explicitly stated belief that French views were objectively correct...

As I have explained numerous times, to you, to others, and to you again; I correctly call Republicans far-right because they are far-right everywhere in the developed world. I didn't make it so, they did.

Why should we use worldwide classification to describe America?

[Tahar Joblis]

Sause

It has been one month since Dunkirk became the largest European city to provide free public transportation to the masses – and it has had an amazing impact on the community.

All of the buses in the French city are free for visitors and residents to use. The fleet includes 140 buses, many of which run on green energy sources and have free WiFi.

Since the city of 200,000 adopted the buses, they have become community hotspots for trivia events, social activities, and even celebrity appearances.

Studies have shown that in addition to reducing air pollution within the port city limits, free public transit has increased mobility amongst older and younger residents and increased feelings of freedom.


“I never used the bus before,” one passenger told The Guardian. “It was too much bother getting tickets or a pass. Now I leave the car at home and take the bus to and from work. It’s so easy.”

The news outlet goes on to say that passenger numbers have increased between 50% to 85%, depending on the route. Passengers have also taken advantage of the public spaces by having more conversations with strangers.

Legislators and scientists hope that – with a little more research to back it up – the initiative’s success may inspire other cities to follow suit.

Holy shit, NSG is just hot right now with stories of riots and possible wars.

Well, here is some shocking news:

Sometimes good things can happen.

Bus rides are free and everyone likes it.

I like when things turn out ok.

What say you nsg?

My hometown went through a similar experience.

Like most cities, it was losing money on the bus system. The "obvious" choice was either to hike up fares again, cut service, or scrap the bus system, and too many other things rely on the bus system for service reduction to be a genuinely good idea.

So they bit the bullet and made it free. This reduced the operating expenses of the bus system significantly, since they didn't have to deal with the expenses of managing fare payments (printing passes, collecting large numbers of quarters in bins, making sure bus drivers aren't skimming the till et cetera. The city would never be able to pretend the bus system would pay for itself with revenue, but the actual net cost to the city didn't change much.

Ridership went way up, which means that as a public service provided by the city, the system got much better.

[Chestaan]

As carbon credits become more prevalent, large scale initiatives like this might have a significant financial benefit.

[Rio Cana]

They have free public transportation here. Its a "integrated municipal transport". It runs from 6am to 6 pm from Monday to Friday. In all, six routes are served. I think the buses, not that big, come every half hour to one hour. In the center of town its more frequent since all the six routes meet at the same place.