Public transport subsidies are at present given to all the various transport companies. An alternative solution would be to make the subsidies directly available to passengers in the form of vouchers. The objective would be to create a public transport system that corresponds better to the demands of the customer. In this contribution we consider the anticipated effects that the introducing of such vouchers would have. What is clear is that this whole idea depends very much on the conditions attached to such usage, such as the marketing method and the specific transport modes for which the vouchers may be used. In this contribution attention is also given to the matter of voucher distribution. If marketing is unlimited, then the way in which the vouchers are distributed will have no effect in relation to the ultimate purpose. There may, however, be great differences as far as winners and losers are concerned. There is also the risk of a drop in demand arising if the vouchers are not optimally used. In view of the possible far-reaching consequences of having vouchers, for demanders and suppliers alike, it would seem sensible to conduct pilot studies before embarking on large-scale implementation. One possibility would be to convert student transport passes into a voucher system. (Author/publisher)
Abstract