The Basque government and the three provincial councils have made progress in promoting a single fare system that applies discounts to the use of public transport in the Basque Country, as set out in the new law.
The Basque government and the three provincial councils have made progress promotion of a single tariff system which applies discounts to the use of public transport in the Basque Country, as laid down in the new law.
The Minister of Territorial Planning, Housing and Transport of the Basque Government, Iñaki Arriola, met this Tuesday with the three provincial deputies of the mobility and transport areas of Álava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, respectively Jon Nogales, Sonia Pérez and Azahara Domínguez.
The aim of the meeting was to analyze the steps that will be taken in the three areas in the coming months following the approval last November by parliament of the Sustainable Mobility Act. The standard includes the mandate to promote one tariff system facilitate the use and accessibility of public transport, taking into account the level of use and the socio-economic level of users.
The proposal includes a common system of progressive discounts depending on the use of public transport, taking into account the socio-economic characteristics of users and the areas in which they travel, as well as special groups, such as large families, young people, the elderly, people with disabilities and social profiles. A specific treatment is devoted to them can even be free in some of them, on the most used routes, free travel applies to all journeys for children under the age of six.
The proposal is also considering that transfers are free throughout Euskadi, something that is already happening in Gipuzkoa through the Mugi card and that Bizkaia will implement in Bizkaibus next year.
Arriola, who has appreciated the construction of the provincial councils, believes that the system he strives for is the fairest, “since it rewards the intensive use of public transport and improves access for people with lower incomes, but also for groups with special needs, such as young people, the elderly, large families or people with disabilities”.
After this meeting, the ministry will meet with urban operators to discuss this proposal and its implementation in the capitals as well.
Source: EITB
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