Brazil expands fare‑free public transport programmes, boosting ridership

In Presidente Prudente, the "Tarifa Zero" program offered free bus rides on Saturdays and Sundays, resulting in a 34% rise in weekend passengers. Over 56 weekends the initiative recorded about 952,000 boardings, with average weekend ridership climbing from 12,700 to roughly 17,000 users. The municipal fleet operates 29 lines with 41 buses on Saturdays and 18 lines with 23 buses on Sundays, with the most frequented routes being lines 139, 106 and 119.

Nationally, Brazil's Federal Statute of the Elderly (Law No. 10,741/2003, article 39) guarantees free urban and semi‑urban bus travel for citizens aged 65 and over, without any income test. Seniors must present any official ID showing their birth date. The law also mandates that 10% of seats on buses be specially marked for older passengers. These provisions aim to reduce recurring travel costs and improve mobility for the elderly across the country.