Public transport in Spanish city of Ontinyent will be free from 2020

The mayor of Ontinyent, Jorge Rodriguez, has announced that all urban transport in the city will become free of charge from 1 January 2020. This is a pioneering measure in cities of more than 30,000 inhabitants in Spain. The announcement coincides with the completion of the current contract for urban transport service.

Jorge Rodriguez, who appeared at a press conference with the councillors Sayo Gandia (Environment) and Inma Ibáñez (Transport) to give details of the measure, also stated that once the new measures are fully operational "there will no longer be any excuse for not using public transport", and that further enhancements will be put in place within the new contract to be agreed with the local public transport provider.

Ibáñez pointed out that services like this with permanent free-of-charge public transport do not exist anywhere else in Spain, although there are a number of precedents in cities throughout Europe. As an example, in France, more than 20 municipalities have implemented similar measures, such as the city of Dunkerque, or even a capital city like Tallinn in Estonia." He also noted that Luxembourg has plans to introduce free passenger transport throughout its territory.

The City Council is also working on other aspects related to sustainable mobility, such as the implementation of a new bus station in the Mesta area and the launch of a pilot project of electric bicycles for use within the city. It will also complete the cycling and pedestrian connection with the new hospital and industrial estates and will create safe itineraries for cyclists and pedestrians along the main roads crossing the urban area, among other measures.