免费公共交通

While 24/7 free public transport can reduce private car use to some extent, I disagree that it is the optimal solution to traffic congestion, as it is financially unsustainable and fails to address core causes of the problem.

Admittedly, free, round-the-clock public transport has limited merits. Commuters and late-night travellers may be encouraged to switch from private cars to buses or trains if they face no fares and can access services at any time. For example, cities that offer free off-peak bus services have seen a small drop in peak-hour car volume, as some people adjust their travel times to take advantage of no-cost rides.

However, this measure is far from the best approach, mainly because it imposes an unsustainable financial burden on governments. Running public transport 24/7 requires paying staff overtime, maintaining vehicles and tracks constantly, and covering high fuel or electricity costs, all of which would drain public funds that could be spent on more effective transport solutions. For instance, a 2022 trial of 24/7 free trains in Melbourne was cancelled after 6 months, as the government could not afford the $180 million annual cost without raising taxes.

Furthermore, traffic congestion is often caused by poor road design, concentrated peak-hour travel demand and rapid growth in private car ownership, which free public transport cannot resolve. More targeted measures, such as expanding road capacity, implementing congestion charges during rush hours and improving the frequency of existing public transport routes, deliver far better results. For example, Singapore’s congestion pricing scheme reduced peak-hour traffic by 25% within a year, at a fraction of the cost of 24/7 free public transport.

In conclusion, 24/7 free public transport is not the best way to tackle congestion, as it is financially unviable and less effective than targeted, evidence-based policies.