100 signatures reached
To: Minister for Transport, Government of Ireland
Stop the Fare Increases — Make Public Transport Free, Frequent and Accessible to All
We are calling on the Minister for Transport and the Government to stop the planned increases in public transport fares.
https://cdn.uplift.ie/assets/uploads/2024/02/MyUplift-banner-politician-SVG.svg
In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, increasing fares is outrageous and completely wrongheaded. We should be moving in the opposite direction: making it cheaper and easier for people to get around - improving quality of life, cutting emissions and building a transport system that is more resilient in an increasingly unstable world.
We are calling on the Government to:
1. Stop the fare increases
Reverse the planned increases in bus and rail fares and protect passengers from further fare hikes.
2. Make public transport free
Begin the transition to free public transport on buses, trains, DART and Luas, funded as an essential public service.
3. Guarantee frequent and reliable public transport everywhere
Expand services so people can genuinely rely on public transport, including an “every village, every hour” standard in rural Ireland, much more frequent and reliable urban and suburban services, and better early-morning, late-night and weekend services. Scheduled services need to actually turn up, with the investment in vehicles, staffing and capacity needed to prevent cancellations and gaps in service.
4. Massively expand public transport infrastructure
At least double capital investment in public transport and fast-track the expansion of bus, rail, DART, Luas and Metro services across the country, alongside full implementation of the recommendations of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review.
5. Make public transport accessible to all
Invest to make all stops and stations universally accessible. Invest in expansion of bus priority, safe walking and cycling connections, integrated services and park-and-ride facilities so that people can easily reach and use the public transport network wherever they live on this island.
https://cdn.uplift.ie/assets/uploads/2024/02/MyUplift-banner-politician-SVG.svg
In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, increasing fares is outrageous and completely wrongheaded. We should be moving in the opposite direction: making it cheaper and easier for people to get around - improving quality of life, cutting emissions and building a transport system that is more resilient in an increasingly unstable world.
We are calling on the Government to:
1. Stop the fare increases
Reverse the planned increases in bus and rail fares and protect passengers from further fare hikes.
2. Make public transport free
Begin the transition to free public transport on buses, trains, DART and Luas, funded as an essential public service.
3. Guarantee frequent and reliable public transport everywhere
Expand services so people can genuinely rely on public transport, including an “every village, every hour” standard in rural Ireland, much more frequent and reliable urban and suburban services, and better early-morning, late-night and weekend services. Scheduled services need to actually turn up, with the investment in vehicles, staffing and capacity needed to prevent cancellations and gaps in service.
4. Massively expand public transport infrastructure
At least double capital investment in public transport and fast-track the expansion of bus, rail, DART, Luas and Metro services across the country, alongside full implementation of the recommendations of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review.
5. Make public transport accessible to all
Invest to make all stops and stations universally accessible. Invest in expansion of bus priority, safe walking and cycling connections, integrated services and park-and-ride facilities so that people can easily reach and use the public transport network wherever they live on this island.
Why is this important?
Public transport fares should not be going up in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. People are already paying too much for housing, food, energy and other essentials. Getting to work, college, school or medical appointments should not mean even more financial pressure.
Recent fuel price shocks have also shown how vulnerable we are in an increasingly unstable world. Climate breakdown is accelerating, wars can disrupt energy supplies, and international crises can quickly push up the cost of petrol and diesel. We need to think seriously about long-term resilience, and that means giving people a public transport system they can actually rely on, no matter where they live in Ireland.
Free, frequent and reliable public transport would cut household costs, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, lower emissions and improve quality of life. It would mean less time stuck in traffic, less money spent getting around, and more freedom for people without having to depend on a car and the expenses cars bring.
Recent fuel price shocks have also shown how vulnerable we are in an increasingly unstable world. Climate breakdown is accelerating, wars can disrupt energy supplies, and international crises can quickly push up the cost of petrol and diesel. We need to think seriously about long-term resilience, and that means giving people a public transport system they can actually rely on, no matter where they live in Ireland.
Free, frequent and reliable public transport would cut household costs, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, lower emissions and improve quality of life. It would mean less time stuck in traffic, less money spent getting around, and more freedom for people without having to depend on a car and the expenses cars bring.