Temps de lecture : 4 minutes

Getting around for free : The Free Pass

On December 21, 2023, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole became the largest European metropolis to introduce free public transport for all its inhabitants.

Get your Free Pass

You need:

  • 1 piece of ID
  • 1 passport photo (can be taken in TaM Mobility Spaces)
  • 1 proof of address (+ parental authorization for any beneficiary aged 3 to 17)

Request the Free Pass:

To travel legally and freely, you must be in possession of your valid Pass gratuité.

In the event of a checkpoint, you'll be able to show your TaM card or a QR code issued from the M'Ticket TaM app.

If your smartphone runs out of battery, access to the app is impossible or you are not in possession of your card, the controller will ask for your ID.

P+tram

Since December 21, 2023, the Pass gratuité allows residents of the metropolis to park free of charge for 24 hours in one of the 9 P+trams with combined use of the tramway.

To do this, you'll need to declare the journey on the M'Ticket TaM app to justify using public transport.

P+Trams will continue to be accessible free of charge for non-residents with monthly or annual passes. Non-residents will also be able to purchase a P+Tram pass at automatic ticket machines.

For non-residents of mainland France

To travel in good standing on the transport network's buses and streetcars, all non-resident passengers or residents who do not have the Pass gratuité must be in possession of a valid paying ticket.

Paying tickets will be available:

  • On the M'Ticket TaM app (purchase of 1V, 10V, 24h pass, family/group pass. These tickets can be purchased in advance and activated at the time of travel).
  • On the online shop (QR code at each station, purchase of a time-stamped ticket - valid immediately): 1V, 24h pass, family/group pass (valid for 24h).
  • Via ticket vending machines in the main stations (64 will remain: stations, Comédie, Corum...) for the purchase of a time-stamped ticket (valid immediately): 1V (valid 1h30), 24h pass, family/group pass (valid 24h).
  • At one of TaM's 80 relay-merchants, with the purchase of a time-stamped paper ticket (valid immediately): 1V, forfait 24h, forfait famille/groupe (valid 24h).

Fares remain unchanged for all transport tickets.

FAQ

False:

While free public transport started out in medium-sized towns such as Châteauroux or Aubagne, it has since been extended to larger agglomerations such as Niort or Dunkerque (200,000 inhabitants) and exists abroad in Tallin, the capital of Estonia, which has 450,000 inhabitants, slightly less than the Metropole of Montpellier*.

Many cities and even countries are working to implement it.

Since February 29, 2020, Luxembourg has introduced free public transport throughout the country**.

* Source : Wikipedia
** Source : Le Monde du 01/03/2020

False:

According to Maxime Huré, Chairman of the scientific committee of the Observatoire des villes du transport gratuit*: "Certain preconceived ideas have been beaten back, such as the assertion that free networks are more degraded than others."

In Montpellier, almost 1 billion euros over 5 years are being spent on soft mobility and alternatives to the car. The existing offer will be further enhanced by the order of 7 new trains to accommodate the increase in ridership linked to free travel. 8 new trains will also replace rolling stock and improve the ongoing maintenance of trains in circulation.

* Source : Ville, Rail & Transports 615 septembre 2018

False:

Developing the city's walkability and bike lanes will get some people off public transport and onto these modes. The purchase of rolling stock is underway, and investments will boost the offer: on the St Eloi <> Albert 1er section, line 5 will enable a streetcar to run every 2 minutes.

True:

Possession of the Pass gratuité is required. In addition, the free pass is reserved for residents of the metropolis only. Anyone living outside the metropolis will need to present a valid pass.

Holding a pass also makes it possible to assess ridership on each line and thus adjust the transport offer for a quality service all year round.

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