In Uzhhorod, car owners are allowed to travel for free on city buses on September 22

On September 22 in Uzhhorod, drivers were invited to leave their cars at home and switch to buses, bicycles or walk. Car owners will be able to use public transport for free throughout the day. This is reported by Suspilne Uzhhorod.

Free travel in Uzhhorod on September 22: conditions for drivers

The initiative is being held in honor of International Car-Free Day. It will cover the city's municipal and private buses. Normally, the fare for buses in Uzhhorod is 20 hryvnias for cashless payments and 23 hryvnias when paying in cash.

To avoid paying for the trip on September 22, drivers need to show their vehicle registration certificate. The document will confirm that the passenger indeed owns a car, but on this day has consciously chosen public transport.

The initiative is being carried out by the Uzhhorod City Council in cooperation with carriers and the public organization «Forza». The organizers did not specify any limitations on the number of trips, but the benefit will apply only for one day.

Car-Free Day in Uzhhorod promotes eco-friendly transport

The main goal of the initiative is not only to reduce the number of cars on the streets. The organizers aim to draw attention to air pollution, traffic jams, and the excessive dependence of city residents on private transport.

«International Car-Free Day is one of the powerful initiatives within European Mobility Week, which Uzhhorod has participated in for 15 years», the city council noted.

This one-day experiment will also give drivers the opportunity to evaluate how convenient it is to move around Uzhhorod without their own vehicle. Such solutions only work when buses run regularly, and pedestrian and cycling routes remain safe.

The practice of free transport on specific dates has already been used in other cities. For instance, earlier, transport became free for a day in Ivano-Frankivsk to commemorate the anniversary of the city’s founding.

For Uzhhorod, the initiative also has a practical significance: the city will be able to see if car owners are willing to change their usual way of transportation with a financial incentive. The development of cycling infrastructure and public transport is already being referred to as one of the conditions that help shape the cleanest cities in Ukraine.