There is a view that to tackle the issue of traffic congestion, the government should provide completely free public transport operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Personally, I agree with this proposal for several reasons.
One reason behind my agreement is that providing round-the-clock public transport can encourage people leave their own vehicles at home. This is because many people who work at night or travel early in the morning use cars or taxis because bus services are unavailable at those times. However, if the government provides round-the-clock public transport services, these people may be more willing to use buses or trains for their journeys. For example, someone who starts work in the afternoon and finishes after midnight could use public transport for both journeys rather than drive because no return service is available. This could reduce car use during the day as well as at night.
Furthermore, providing free public transport services can also encourage people to change how they travel. Owning a private car is expensive, particularly when the costs of fuel, parking and maintenance are taken into account. Meanwhile, free public transport services can help commuters save money by removing fares and reducing their spending on fuel and parking. Consequently, free public transportation becomes a more financially attractive alternative to driving, especially for people who commute every day. This can lead to a decrease in the number of people using private vehicles, helping to ease congestion during peak hours.
In conclusion, I believe that providing a completely free public transport with round-the-clock services is a worthwhile government policy because it addresses both the cost and availability of travel, encouraging more drivers to use public transport and thereby reducing congestion.