For a list of city-wide zero-fare networks, see Free public transport. For free public transport for certain types of passenger (while others pay a fare), see Free travel pass.
On 4 February 2013, ACTION commenced operating the "Centenary Loop" which was numbered as route 100. It operated around the city centre and parliamentary triangle to celebrate the centenary of Canberra. It ceased operation on 5 January 2014.[2]
ACTION operated a free weekday service (Route 101) around the city centre from 2016 until 2019.[3]
On 3 December 2008, Sydney Buses commenced operating a free city loop service around the Sydney central business district. Route 555 operated in both directions via Bridge Street, George Street, Eddy Avenue and Elizabeth Street.[11] It was later altered to operate up and down George Street from Circular Quay to Railway Square.[12] It ceased in October 2015 due to commencement of construction of a light rail line, that is not free.[13]
Transport for Brisbane operates free bus trips on weekdays in the Brisbane central business district on route 30 – between the CBD and Spring Hill – and on routes 40 and 50, which mirror each other – one running clockwise and the other counterclockwise – varying due to the Brisbane CBD's one-way street grid.[16] The service is smaller than that of other cities.
Public transport services in the greater Brisbane area are free, on event days, for holders of valid game-day tickets to NRL, AFL, national/international T20, ODI and test cricket events.
Sunshine Coast: Noosa Council have partnered with Translink to provide free buses within the Noosa Shire every weekend and during the busy Christmas and Easter Queensland school holidays
The Go Noosa Weekends service is a 12 month trial from the 12 February 2022 to the 12 February 2023 and includes Translink services 626, 627, 628, 629 and 632 only.[18]
97A and 97C buses linked the old with the new Royal Adelaide Hospital initially.[22] The service ceased when the new tram extension opened in 2018.
Years before that, a city service known as 99B used to ply King William Street from North Terrace to South Terrace, but this was terminated after the Glenelg tram extension up to North Terrace.
Hradec Králové, Czech Republic – all city buses and trolleybuses between the main train station and the new central bus terminal, since 2008 July 5.
Faroe Islands
Tórshavn, Faroe Islands - The municipality of the capital city Tórshavn offers free bus service.[27]
France
Calais, France – Free bus called the Balad'in runs from Boulevard La Fayette (or more precisely Jardin-des-Plante, in the town centre) to the beach and back every 10 minutes. Three buses operate on Monday to Saturday from 8:55am and with the last departures at 6:47pm (beach) and 7:02pm (town centre).
Paris, France has frequent free transport routes that run around the Eurodisney Park and connect to hotels and alternative public transport routes nearby. There is also a free shuttle bus that connects the 'Centre Commercial Belle Epine' to a housing estate owned by Silic (fr:Silic) in the southern district of Orly.[28]
Tarbes in France offers a year-long free shuttle bus around the city, linking the main spots.
Saint-Fons, in the south of Lyon, offer a free minibus line all around the city
Augsburg has a City-Zone in the city centre where one can use the Tram for free. People can use this opportunity moving within the City-Zone or while entering or leaving it.[29]
Greece
Marousi, a wealthy northern suburb in Athens, Greece has small municipal bus shuttles (of red colour) which can be used for free by anyone.
Luxembourg
In the beginning of 2020, Luxembourg will offer free public transit on all routes nationwide in an effort to relieve traffic congestion and prioritize environmental policy.[30]
India
Tirumalai (Tirupati), India – Free buses run by Temple authority to visit the nearby religious centres on the top of the hill.
Seberang Jaya, Penang - Free weekday bus operated by Rapid Penang from Sunway Business Centre in Seberang Jaya to Bayan Lepas targeting industrial area workforce namely Bridge Express Shuttle Transit (BEST).
Dordrecht – bus and ferry, some Saturdays at the end of each year.
Noordwijk/Oegstgeest – Leiden Transferium – The Hague, express bus, running on weekdays during daytime, free of charge as a test during 2004; it was intended for commuters working in The Hague and living in Leiden or beyond who would otherwise travel by car to the Hague, to promote parking at the Transferium and continuing the journey by bus; the aim was to reduce road traffic congestion between Leiden and The Hague. The test was paid by the province of South Holland. It was discontinued in 2005.
Bus stops near Auchan shopping center are near RightBank (Pravoberezhnaya) street and Sevastopolsky lane +Mytyshi. Thus, the buses half-officially are used by local residents and offices and even have unofficial "A" number and two more form "Real" shopping centers (bought from Metro C&C). At 2020 available at 12 hypermarkets and Auchan city + 1 if you buy something at Leroy Merlin
Sadovod +South gate trade area: 6:00-16:00-18:00 free buses to four metro stations each and between the markets (To "Moscow" trade center too). These routes don't have intermediate stops except "Bird market" and stop near Mega trade center (about from 15:00)
Stankolit platform area serviced by a variety of free routes because this area is not accessible except by long walking by foot on daytime from November 2002 (tram service terminated, low train service by mornings and evenings, at 21 November 2019 railway service terminated but ability remained and even assigned transfer rule at metro Savelovskaya).
During Easter Sundays, the Sunday before and after, buses and some trolleys to cemeteries are free but intermediate stops are cancelled unless they are high passengers turnover, park-and-ride stops, or if there is another cemetery (some unique track routes keep all stops). The system is criticised because it strongly lowers service on regular routes and religions. In Zelenograd district with specific: the routes do not change (except discarding peak hours two-stops branch on route 1 and 2) are free to cemetery and to riders originating at cemeteries (because cemeteries are terminus stops at all routes), otherwise requires a fare
Trains on Big Circle Railway road are free at most times due to very low traffic (3 to 6 pairs per day), the fare is required only on some stops that transferring with main directions from the Moscow and part on Kazanskaya railway or Yaroslavskaya railway unless the conductor goes in the train (penalty fare does not apply, the cash offices are the exceptions on this road). Exemptions on this road restricted (valid only if this is a federal exemption, other only if train to Moscow city exist from this platform, and even split later or canceled), horewer about half of this circle is 100% free (but may be charged in time of events, for example 165 km (from Manichino) to Kubinka 1 then to park Patriot +Aprelevka depot train). In Vladimirskaya oblast exemptions valid 90 km-158 km-Sanino for this and 40 km-Alexandrov (also +Balakirevo but direct trains only) to Moscow/MO. Students 50% discount valid in Moscow for all students, but no ISIC accepted, in Vladimirskaya oblast only if purchased two way ticket (as return coupon)
Buses to Globus (hypermarket) in Pushkino (earlier to Shelkovo, two routes were diverted later) and Podolsk allow to ride about 20 km for free, and return with small purchase required. Many routes have unique track, and even one unique stops (in city). In additional they have one route from 2 metro stations to Krasnogorsk shop (shared with Leroy Merlin)
Football
On the game days only (+4 hours after the end) in 2017/2018 all S-bahn trains (but limited to border of the subject where the match goes +Moscow oblast, Leningradskaya oblast or termini station, for example to Klin is free, to Redkino or Tver not, for Nara is free, Obninsk is not) and metro in Moscow, Saint Peterburg, Kazan, Samara, Ekaterinburg, premetre (tram) in Volgograd are free with Fan ID and ticket. And some bus, trolleybus and tram routes.
In additional booking for specialized trains is available.
may book
must use the assigned trains (game day ± 2–3 days) for free. The most popular trains like Red Arrow and Sapsan remains paid.
must register at police/MFC/hotel with 24 hours at 2017, 72 hours at 2018 from arriving if you stay for 2 nights in single city (Russia/Belarus by 3 days)
you may book two tickets for one match but from/to the same city, or book only one. The total number is unlimited (in Confederation cup all 3+2 matches or even 3*2+2 if move from Moscow and Saint Peterburg)
FAN must check at turnstile and keep the football ticket for return from the game and don't foul
these trains go without stops (in 2018 some trains had 3 city concept, in Sochi probably also may disembark at first stop)
Aeroexpress trains in Moscow are free with game day ± 2 days any time but only twice to one Fan ID. The full-stops trains to DME, bus 911 to VKO and SVO-SPARTAK shuttle don't drain the counter but free on the game day only.
Maximum zero fare were on game day to fans. Adjustment days to Long range trains, aeroexpress trains but not on linked. Also available Aeroflot planes (only 5 rur or US$0.1, Russian games and passport only)
Voronezh, Russia - buses with letter "H" (n) were free to anybody and go by their own network and timetable
Taiwan
Taichung, Taiwan – free bus service within the first 10 kilometers for Easycard or iPASS users
Stockport Metroshuttle links Stockport railway station with the bus station, supermarkets and leisure attractions. This service was formerly known as the Stockport Shuttlebus, but was rebranded in line with other zero-fare bus services in Greater Manchester.
Ipswich – A free shuttle bus service runs on a circular route around the town centre linking the site of the former County Council headquarters to the replacement building.[36]
Oxford - A 15-seater minibus is run by Geo, an American Immigration Corporation to take passengers on the half-hour journey between Oxford railway station and Campsfield House detention centre near the village of Kidlington and Oxford Airport. It runs every hour, and then every two hours, all afternoon, 7 days a week.
West Midlands - From 9 December to 13 December, 2024, bus travel is free to use from 7pm onwards.[39]
West Yorkshire, four of the larger settlements covered by the West Yorkshire Metro have zero-fare bus services which are jointly funded by West Yorkshire Metro, local councils and private companies. The services are branded either FreeTownBus or FreeCityBus, depending on whether the location is a town or city (Leeds's FreeCityBus service replaced by LeedsCityBus in 2011, which requires fare-paying or multi-journey tickets for travel):
Bradford - FreeCityBus - a free loop service around the city centre.
Dewsbury - FreeTownBus - the latest FreeTownBus in West Yorkshire, it was launched in December 2009.
Wakefield - FreeCityBus - free circular route around the city centre.
United States
Amherst, Massachusetts – Free buses servicing the Amherst area. The buses UMass Transit Services runs as part of the PVTA bus system have no fare for Five College students as well as the general public. These buses include the 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 45, and 46. The B43 and R29 buses, which also service the Five College system, are run by Valley Area Transit Company and Springfield Area Transit Company, respectively, and use the standard PVTA fares for the general public. However, during academic semesters, Five College student IDs are accepted as a form of payment.[40][41][42]
Ann Arbor, Michigan – free bus services between University of Michigan campuses and student housing. Note that most large universities provide a similar kind of bus service. The city bus service, the AAATA, is free for students, faculty, and staff of the University of Michigan. The AAATA also runs a service called "the Link" which runs between downtown and campus area and is currently free (for everyone) to ride. While individual rides are "free", typically students pay a transportation service fee as part of their tuition and fee charges.
Baltimore, Maryland – Charm City Circulator; 4 routes of up to ≈ 5 km (3.1 mi) crossing city center in various directions.
The Massport shuttle buses provide a free connection with various areas relatively close to the Boston Logan International Airport including: MBTA Blue Line (Airport station), MBTA Commuter Boat (Water Transportation Dock), and the Rental Car Center.[44]
McKinney Avenue Transit Authority heritage trolley transports riders along a three-mile stretch from downtown to uptown McKinney Avenue seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit operates the D-Link, a free shuttle bus that provides service to various attractions in Downtown Dallas.
Denver, Colorado – Free 16th Street Mall shuttle bus downtown between Civic Center and Union Station. To replace an aging fleet of iconic hybrid buses, in 2015, RTD ordered a new BYD fleet, expecting delivery by the end of 2016[45] but fleet delivery was delayed into summer 2017.[46] In spring 2014, RTD added a new rush-hour MetroRide route between Union Station and Civic Center Station along 18th and 19th Streets. From 6-9am and 3-6pm, the 60-foot articulated buses run at 5-minute intervals.[47][48]
Grand Rapids, Michigan - The Downtown Area Shuttle or DASH is a free system of small buses connecting key downtown Grand Rapids locations and parking lots
Houston, Texas – The 412 Greenlink Downtown Circulator Bus uses environmentally friendly Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to provide free weekday service to major office buildings and free weekend service and evening service Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights serving the Theater District and Toyota Center sports venue.[49]
Hyannis, Massachusetts – CCRTA operates a free shuttle loop on Main Street and many of the downtown beaches during July and August each year.
Lancaster, California – Antelope Valley Transit Authority offers free rides to all riders who are senior citizens, disabled, active military, and veterans, on all its local fixed routes buses. (With id)
Logan, Utah – The Cache Valley Transit District serves the City of Logan, Utah and the Cache County area based on a sales tax. Special rides are available to the disabled and extra buses available for during rush periods for university and public education students. Limited service Saturdays; no service Sundays.
Long Beach, California – The “Passport” shuttles are free within the downtown area (west of Alamitos Ave.)
Maui County, Hawaii, pop 128,000: Maui Bus, on the Kahului and Wailuku Loop, plus the Lahaina Villager Routes.[50]
Select Metro Transit buses are free along Nicollet Mall between the Convention Center and Washington Ave.
The University of Minnesota Campus Shuttle has 4 routes that serve the Minneapolis and nearby St. Paul campuses. The system carried more than 3.5 million riders in 2008.[52]
New Haven, Connecticut – The Union Station Shuttle is a free transit bus that operates between Union Station and Downtown. In addition to the train station, the bus also stops at various parking facilities, Gateway Community College, and the New Haven Green at the center of Downtown. The bus runs every 20 minutes from 6am to 10pm.
The Staten Island Ferry operates between Whitehall, Manhattan and St. George, Staten Island 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Fare collection ended in 1997.
Palo Alto, California operates two bus lines, the Embarcadero Shuttle and the Crosstown shuttle. Both are free.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania offers free transportation between terminals A through E of Philadelphia International Airport on the SEPTAAirport Line trains, which run every 30 minutes. Transportation on this train into Center City Philadelphia and other destinations is available but requires payment. Transportation between the airport terminals can also be accomplished by using concourses and moving walkways and through two free shuttle bus routes operated by US Airways.
Portland, Oregon – From 1975 until 2010, all transit service was free within “Fareless Square”, a 330 square-block zone that encompassed all of downtown Portland, and from 2010 to September 2012 it remained free for light rail and streetcar service (but not buses), renamed the “Free Rail Zone”.
Salt Lake City, Utah — Bus and light-rail service is free within the downtown Free Fare Zone.[55]
State College, Pennsylvania – CATA runs four routes that offer bus service between the Penn State campus and downtown State College, an addition to two regional service routes that do not charge fare if they are only traveling across campus.
