For a more transformational zero tariff debate. Reflections from the study of mainly English and German-language discussion over the last two years

This article continues a scientific and practical work on zero tariff in public transport, especially in local public transport, which was started in 2007. Previous texts had already made it clear that the crucial question is whether a zero tariff in public transport is developed and practiced as an instrument that is integrated into a policy aimed at making society progressively more peaceful, democratic, just, social, ecological and solidary – socially as well as ecologically sustainable. Democratic activists which have been fighting for a zero tariff for many years often became initiators or parts of alliances of various social actors, including political parties, for such a transformative zero tariff. The core question of this text is whether the current intensified debate on zero tariff in the context of Covid-19 pandemic, the consequences of its management and of inflation resp. rising prices of energy and food due to the Ukraine war, offers possibilities to strengthen the idea and concept of zero tariff as a transformational instrument. The analysis of the discussion and literature on practical zero tariff experiences shows that the challenge is to focus the debate on the long term, predictability also late positive outcomes as the issue of public health. This conclusion collides with two very different problems in particular: the urgent social needs of many people affected by the two big crises and the dramatically advanced climate and ecological crisis, which requires rapid and drastic action to address, and the mostly short-term nature of the programs to address the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and inflation. These problems reinforce the need to running the zero-tariff debate as a transformational one, or to make it a transformational debate. The focus must be on socially and ecologically sustainable mobility, on the development of public transport and the strong relativisation of the car as a means of satisfying mobility needs.