At the same time the Greek passengers falling victim daily news ... suffering, Tallinn Estonia becomes the first European capital which provide residents free transportation ! ....
Since the beginning of the year, you only have to make the residents of Tallinn each time you go on the bus, tram and trolley is to validate a new green card .
"It's something new , sometimes I forget to do it ," says 19 year old Pavel Ilmiarv climbing the bus No5 in the center of the Estonian capital .
"Before I had a monthly pass and did not need to validate each time. But I do not complain . The free movement by public transport is very practical. I like very much. "
Free transport with public transport permitted for 420,000 residents of Tallinn . Only personal magnetic card certifying the status of citizen of Tallinn , paid over two euros .
"We had this idea a year ago and noticed that the first few weeks of the measure number in the world using means of transport increased. Therefore we decided to increase the number of buses "in the city , says Deputy Mayor of Tallinn Tavium Ash. Half of the residents of Tallinn already using the new system , according to the mayor.
However, for the municipality , the free movement by public transport has a cost. "This year will not capitalize 12.4 million from the sale of tickets, a figure that covers almost 23% of the total costs of transport in Tallinn ," explains Thomas mRNA , a representative of the municipality.
"A part of this amount is offset by increasing taxes in the arrival of new residents . Last year the population of Tallinn grew by 3,686 residents and continues to grow , " he says.
Many residents of the capital declared by then the cottage house as their main residence recorded in Tallinn to benefit from the free movement of public transport , increasing local taxes revenues of the municipality.
Priority , the fight against pollution
"We hope to reduce the number of cars circulating in the city and thus reduce air pollution. Studies have shown that automobiles are what pollute more Tallinn . It is however too early to assess the effect of the measure , "said mRNA .
" Until then, almost half the population using public transport . It will take time to calculate the number of cars will remain parked because of free travel by public transport . "
For a family of four with two children, free movement allows saving nearly 600 per year. The amount is not insignificant in a country where the average monthly wage is 900 euros.
However, in this small country with a population of 1.3 million Estonians , non-residents of Tallinn complain. "I am a student at Pärnu ( east ) and for me that public transport is not free. The measure is very unfair for those who do not reside in the capital. In the region of the world generally wins less money than the capital , "said a 26 year old student . A ticket costs 1.60 euros.
The free system is only valid for residents. The auditors continue their work and eisitiriodiafygi punishable by a fine up to 60 euros , the equivalent of a monthly unemployment allowance . The unemployment rate is 10 % in the former Soviet republic to join the EU in 2004 and the eurozone in 2011.
Tallinn hoping to Green Capital of Europe , a title that year was Nantes in western France .
"We hope to win the title in 2018. The fact that we are the first European capital that establishes free movement by public transport for all residents will help us achieve our goal , "says Deputy Mayor Tavium Ash.
