Hasselt ends free public transport scheme

People in Hasselt will no longer be able to travel for free on public transport in the city. The free bus scheme, launched in 1997 by the then mayor, the popular former pub landlord Steve Stevaert, cost public transport company De Lijn €967,000 per year, with the city of Hasselt also contributing. The deal comes to an end on May 1 and from that date only people aged under 19 and over 65 will be exempt from paying the new maximum fare of €0.60. The Estonian capital, Tallinn, made inner-city public transport free on January 1, at the time quoting Hasselt, the French city of Aubagne and China’s Chengde as successful examples.