Filenews 5 May 2023 - Nicoletta Kouroushi
Green Peace ranks Cyprus in the top five countries in Europe regarding the use of "climate tickets" in public transport. Specifically, Cyprus, with a score of 63/100, ranks 5th, after Luxembourg, Malta, Austria, and Germany, for the use of affordable long-term tickets on public transport.
Green Peace defines "climate tickets" as "affordable, long-term tickets valid on all public transport in a country or in a designated region", pointing out that by making public transport affordable for all, people can switch from private cars to greener forms of mobility, thereby helping to tackle the climate crisis.
The report surveys 30 European countries (EU27, Norway, Switzerland, UK) and their capitals according to 4 criteria: the simplicity of the ticketing system, the price of season tickets, discounted tickets to socially disadvantaged groups and the VAT rate.
Each country and capital city received a certain number of points for each of these criteria, with the ultimate goal of reaching 100. For the ranking of states, the simplicity of the ticketing system was given weight 30%, rechargeable tickets 40%, reduced to special groups 20% and VAT rate 10%. For the ranking of cities, simplicity is 20% (as almost all cities have such tickets), ticket prices 60%, and social discounts the remaining 20%.
What Green Peace records for Cyprus
The organization records for Cyprus that it has a long-term ticket for public transport, which can be used for all modes of transport, which means for all buses, since there are no trains or trams on the island.
He points out that the normal price is very high (€2,250 per year, equivalent to €2,370 after adjusting the price level), noting however that "although all vulnerable groups, analyzed, receive a 50% discount or travel for free".
He also underlines that VAT on public transport tickets in Cyprus is one of the lowest in Europe (5%).
Therefore, Cyprus received 30 points for the simplicity of the ticketing system, 3 points for the price of season tickets, 20 points for discounted tickets to socially disadvantaged groups and 10 points for the VAT rate, a total of 63 points.
As for the capital of Cyprus, Nicosia scored 83.8 points in the city ranking, and specifically in 11th place.
Please note that the annual ticket to Nicosia costs only €400 and is therefore cheaper than the ticket throughout the country. It is noted that the same discount system as the ticket is applied throughout the country, i.e. students and social welfare beneficiaries receive a 50% discount, while low-income pensioners as well as people with disabilities and their carers can travel for free.
"Enter a climate ticket quickly"
Greenpeace is calling on European governments to introduce "climate tickets" in response to the climate, energy and cost of living crises. He points out that the ideal climate ticket does not yet exist in Europe, but there are interesting initiatives that could be improved, strengthened and expanded. See e.g. Austria, Estonia, Germany, Luxembourg, Malta and Spain.
It is worth noting that among the 30 countries analyzed, only 3 have introduced relevant climate tickets that can be used throughout the country: Austria, Germany and Hungary, while only 7 countries have a simple ticketing system: Austria, Germany, Cyprus, Hungary, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands sell tickets to all, which are valid for all or most of the country's means of transport for at least a month. The price in Belgium and the Netherlands is over 7 € per day and is therefore not considered affordable for the general public.
Which countries have the cheapest tickets in Europe?
In terms of overall survey findings across Europe, cities score much higher than countries, with 76 and 29 points 100 points on average, respectively.
According to the ranking of cities, except for Luxembourg, Tallinn and Valletta, where public transport is free, the cheapest monthly or annual tickets are currently available in Prague, Bratislava, Rome, Vienna and, provisionally until 30 June 2023, Madrid. They cost €0.85 or less per day after adjusting the price level.
The most expensive cities are London, Dublin, Paris and Amsterdam (adjusted for Price Level Indices). They present tickets for more than €2.25 per day.
Discounts for special groups
It is noted that as far as the 30 capitals are concerned, they all have monthly or annual tickets that can be used for all or almost all means of public transport, while all cities have discounts for socially disadvantaged individuals and groups, but the criteria of beneficiaries differ between cities.
Seniors receive benefits in all 30 cities analyzed, except Berlin, and all or at least some seniors can travel for free to 16 cities.
Students receive discounts in all 30 cities, but can only drive for free or almost free in 5 cities. Lisbon and Brussels in addition to the 3 cities with free shipping for everyone. Copenhagen and Berlin currently or extremely small discounts of 10 and 5%, respectively.
Half of the 30 cities analyzed have no discounts for other low-income people, such as the unemployed, refugees, asylum seekers or parents with young children.
Discounts for people with disabilities vary most across cities.
