Karácsony said it was unclear to him why "political pressure by the municipality was necessary" to receive the funding, which is normally allocated around this time of the year as an item in the country's central budget.Continue reading
The Municipality of Budapest has decided to make timed, or short-term tickets available to public transport passengers from spring 2022. The new tickets will only be available digitally.
This article was originally published on our sister-site, Ungarn Heute.
The 30-minute ticket will cost HUF 530 (1.40 euros) and HUF 750 (2 euros) for a 90-minute ticket, with a one-way ticket currently costing 350 forints (90 cents). Purchasing the time-based ticket could be much more favorable for those changing lines or traveling back and forth on the same route in a short time. Meanwhile, the 90-minute ticket is worthwhile for a round trip.
The Budapest Public Transport Company (BKK) expects this measure to increase the popularity of public transport, especially for those who want to use the service only once, but also want to change trains.
Previously, there was a vote on what time slot passengers would prefer: 30, 60, or 90 minutes. Asked why the one-hour ticket was left out of the March offer despite the fact that most passengers voted on that option, Deputy Mayor Ambrus Kiss said that BKK did not decide on the basis of the opinion poll, but on the basis of the occupancy rate. This raises the question of what else people are voting on, if not which ticket they think is the most useful. Also, if this is not what the survey measured, it raises another question of what the purpose of the poll was, especially since it was not the basis on which the decision was ultimately made. However, a trip with the new tickets can even be started at the last valid minute, so it is actually valid for 60 or 120 minutes.
Short-term tickets are already used in several major European cities, as they make public transport not only easier but also cheaper. The idea for this type of ticket for Budapest was born three years ago: former Mayor István Tarlós and Interior Minister Sándor Pintér signed an agreement in April 2019, according to which time-based tickets can be bought with e-passports, student cards, and travel cards by the end of 2020, but it seems that more time was needed for the project.
Source: 24.hu, Portfolio, Telex
Featured image: illustration via Pixabay
