The economic crisis has excluded many residents from access to public transport, thus undermining social cohesiveness in the City of Tallinn. Moreover, air pollution and noise caused by too intensive car traffic in the city centre threaten residents’ health and the historical Old Town of Tallinn which belongs to UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Free public transport strengthens social cohesiveness by granting urban mobility for all. Prioritising public transport serves as a useful tool for achieving smoother urban traffic, lower air pollution, and reducing the number of traffic accidents. The initiative also motivates still unregistered residents of the City to register their place of living officially in Tallinn. This increases the City revenues from personal income tax which enables the municipality to improve public services and quality of life for all residents.

A municipal referendum which involved into effective debate and decision-making the entire population was held on 19-25 March 2012. The result of the poll - 75% for and 25% against free public transport - provided strong mandate for the city administration to further prioritize public transport.　　

Tallinn analysed carefully the experience of existing free public transport systems in Europe and elsewhere. The group of Estonian experts and the team of international experts from the Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden) presented the City of Tallinn their analyses and research proposals in October 2012. Three key indicators were considered: the number of expected bus rides (presumably increasing), the number of cars entering the city's central area  (presumably decreasing), the registration of new residents and the increasing gains induced by personal income tax.

The new contactless card system started operating in the vehicles of the Unified Ticketing System in September 2012. The system provides the appropriate technical support for free public transport. Every ride is counted and the system is made convenient also for non-residents.

Not only free transit has been implemented in Tallinn. Tallinn also decided to expand exclusive bus lanes at the expense of car lanes, raised tariffs and expanded the paid area for parking in the city centre. The city also enhanced the development of park & ride schemes. These schemes include the plannification of exclusive light traffic/bicycle roads and their parking facilities.　　

Parties involved in the project were:

• Tallinn Transport Department, 
• Tallinn municipal transport company (Tallinna Linnatranspordi AS), 
• Local and international experts,
• NGOs.

The public transport system in Tallin has always been highly subsidized. The subsidy part already accounted for 70% of public transport revenues before the introduction of free public transport. Now it accounts for 96%. Residents get a smart card that allow them to travel limitless within the city. Tourists still have to pay 1,60€ to use public transport. 

Following outcomes have been achieved in the City of Tallinn after the introduction of free public transport:

• Improving social cohesiveness by granting mobility to all residents.
• Enhancing local economy by lowering labour expenses.
• Increasing the visibility of Tallinn - this innovative solution has already generated wide interest and global media coverage.

Ticket revenue - 14 million Euros - has to be compensated from other sources of the budget. Three times more residents registered as Tallinn residents in 2013 as in 2012. Registered residents of Tallin contribute annual revenues of about 10 million Euros, covering a substancial part of the project costs. 

- Free Public Transport in Tallinn – A Brave Step towards the Green Capital, Guangzhou Award for Urban Innovation, http://www.guangzhouaward.org/650/content_810.html, (accessed 20 March 2016).

- Free Public Transport in Tallinn – A Brave Step towards the Green Capital, Urban inovation database, http://bit.ly/1RXx17M, (accessed 20 March 2016).