Free Public Transit Referendum Gets Under Way (9)

Published: 19.03.2012 12:21

Photo: Postimees/Scanpix

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Starting today, residents of Tallinn have the opportunity to participate in the week-long referendum on free public transportation.

During the referendum, held from March 19 to 25 and costing the city 259,000 euros, residents who are at least 18 years old are asked whether they support the introduction of free public transportation on city-operated bus, trolley and tram lines starting from 2013.

Polling stations have been set up in shopping, youth and community centers across the city. Residents can also participate at a number of bus stops and the service bureaus of Tallinn City Office and city district governments.

In order to launch free public transportation, the city would have to find additional 20 million euros, which equals approximately 40 percent of the city's public transportation budget. The city has said in previous statements that the move is necessary for cutting traffic congestion, lowering the number of accidents and reducing the use of private transport in Tallinn.

 

Ingrid Teesalu

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Comments (9)

  • Muposchlupo

    19.03.2012 13:40

    How much money could be saved by firing MuPo? They must have a staggering budget. I'll vote for free public transport if Eddie will fire every single MuPo employee.

  • ameeriklane

    19.03.2012 14:41

    So here's the main reason this "smells" bad. They don't allow online voting. You have to take the time and go to certain places to cast your paper ballot. The reason? Well according to an article on Delfi (March 13, 12:48pm), the city gov't felt that electronic voting was not "secure and legitimate enough". How can this be, when real elections for the past few elections cycles have been run online without a problem, and also the city's last referendum was also run online. I think the reason is that they know what type of people have the time to vote on paper, and what type of people would vote online.

  • Mart Mang

    19.03.2012 14:55

    On the question of free transportation, I bet all the "rabbits" vote YES!

  • avatar

    auslane

    19.03.2012 15:24

    @ameeriklane - I'm not sure if there is a conspiracy here. There are many good reasons to consider electronic voting security-compromised, and Estonia's adoption of it as a mistake. That aside - I'd vote against free public transport; the traffic congestion is not too bad, and only exists for a short time during the start of day and end of day peak hour. I also find it hard to believe that there will be an increase in the number of buses / trolleys running to cater for the extra demand. Finally, any kind of 'entrance fee' acts to keep a portion of the free-loaders away.

  • Weird

    19.03.2012 15:55

    259000 Euros for this voting? There could be far better uses for this sum of money!

  • Spawnie

    21.03.2012 12:13

    If this gets approved, I believe buses will become unbearably crowded. Do you have any idea how many people prefer to walk, even for more than just 1-2 stops? If offered a free of charge alternative, they would get on the bus just for the fun of it! I need to use public transport every day, and I would rather do so in civilized conditions. Plus, I have said it before, people who can afford a car, will not give it up for a free bus ride. Unless Estonians care THAT much about the environment.

  • avatar

    pillandia

    21.03.2012 18:54

    It is difficult to express an opinion in front of a totally new thing: almost all inventors had been crazy at the age of a new idea. But I feel somehow positive, supporting a programme which thinks more to "lower ranking" citizens (users of public city transports), than to rich people travelling by car even for few metres. I look at the development of this question with a great curiosity.

  • Notfree

    22.03.2012 21:45

    When the government says something is free, it just means everyone pays for it as opposed to just the people that use it. It's anything but free.

  • Michiru Nagatsu

    22.03.2012 23:01

    I'm not familiar with the political motivations of the central party behind this, so just note a few common sense points which is supported by empirical research. (I) the behaviour of target group (car drivers) is not sensitive to such a minor monetary incentive. (2) People care about the service punctuality and quality as much as the ticket price. These factors will be compromised by overloaded (otherwise walking) passengers and asocial and anti-social free-riders. (3) This in turn will discourage the target group from using public transportation because they (compared to those without cars) care more about the service punctuality and quality (because they have alternative, more convenient means of transport) than the price (because they are financially more resourceful). (4) This means that the policy won't deliver what it promises, namely, the reduction of city congestion. Experts (e.g. Prof. Dago Antov at Tallinn University of Technology) say that Tallinn needs more investment (e.g. extension of tram lines, modernizing infrastructures, designing car routes that won't concentrate on the centre, etc.), not less.