IELTS Writing Task 2: Free public transport

It has been suggested that public transport in cities should be free for everyone. While I agree that cheaper public transport is desirable, I only partly agree that it should be completely free, as the costs would be very high.

There are strong arguments for free public transport. Most importantly, it would encourage people to leave their cars at home, reducing traffic congestion and air pollution in city centres. It would also help people on low incomes, for whom the cost of travelling to work or school can be a significant burden. The city of Tallinn in Estonia introduced free public transport for residents in 2013, and passenger numbers increased, showing that price does influence people's choices.

However, making all public transport free would be extremely expensive. Ticket sales currently pay for a large part of the cost of running buses and trains, so this money would have to come from taxes, and there might be less available for improving services. This is important because research suggests that people care more about how fast, frequent and reliable transport is than about the price. If services became free but remained crowded and slow, many drivers would still prefer their cars.

A better approach, in my opinion, would be to make public transport free for those who need it most, such as students, the elderly and people on low incomes, while keeping fares low for everyone else. The money saved could then be invested in better services.

In conclusion, I partly agree with the idea. Free public transport has clear benefits, but targeted discounts combined with investment in quality would achieve most of these benefits at a much lower cost.