Tallinn proposes free rides

TALLINN - The Tallinn City government has proposed a bill to City Council which regulates the use of free public transport, reports LETA.
 According to the draft regulation, all citizens of Tallinn will be allowed to use public transportation free of charge as of Jan. 1, 2013.

In addition to Tallinners and groups that are already entitled to ride free regardless of their place of residence, the bill also enables free public transport to all students, whether they are registered citizens or not.
The act also ordains the implementation of an innovative ticket and free ride validation system. The system of paper tickets will expire from Jan. 1, 2013 and the new means of purchasing and validating the right to ride in public transport will be the innovative e-card.

The new e-ticket system will be implemented on Sept. 21, and the paper tickets will expire on Jan. 1. The use of the e-card will thereof be mandatory for Tallinners and students who wish to ride free in public transport. The system of ID-tickets will remain enforceable until March 31, 2013. In comparison to the current act, the new bill reduces the number of different types of tickets by nineteen. Among others, the possibility to purchase tickets with a mobile phone will stay in effect.

Those users of public transport who are not, according to the Population Register, residents of Tallinn, will have to buy e-tickets or electronic period cards as the paper tickets will be abolished.