Free public transport proposed for all Danish children and youth under 22

A new government proposal would eliminate fares for buses and trains for all children and young people up to age 22, a move researchers say could reduce inequality and improve long-term health and sustainability, DR reports.

Laura Bang Lindegaard, a mobility researcher at Aalborg University, called the plan a “truly important step” toward social equity, ensuring no young person is left behind due to transport costs. “They will stand on far more equal ground when it comes to mobility,” she said.

The initiative targets “mobility poverty,” where limited access to transport restricts participation in social, recreational, and educational activities. Lindegaard noted that exclusion from such opportunities can harm both social engagement and physical health. “Those who couldn’t previously afford public transport—or lacked parents to drive them—will now have that chance,” she said.

Beyond equity, the policy could advance Denmark’s green transition by normalizing public transport use from an early age. Lindegaard suggested habit formation could reduce car dependency later in life, calling the proposal a “long-term investment” in both youth well-being and sustainable infrastructure.