The city of Daegu has decided to apply different ages for free rides on city buses and urban railways for the elderly every year.
Daegu City announced on the 9th that it has confirmed the plan to support free transportation for the elderly for city buses and urban rail as a ‘gradual promotion’ according to age per year.
Daegu City has been pushing for a plan to allow free riding for city buses in addition to the existing free riding for the elderly on the urban railway, and has delayed the decision on the specific eligible age.
According to the step-by-step action plan confirmed by the city, in the case of city buses where free trips are operated, the elderly over the age of 75 will be qualified first, and then the age will be lowered of a year every year.
On the other hand, urban railways will maintain the free ride system for those aged 65 or older until this year, but will raise the qualifying age by one year every year from next year.
In this way, from 2028, seniors aged 70 and over will be able to use city buses and urban railways free of charge.
The free travel time for city buses was originally due to be on June 28, but has been confirmed as July 1.
However, until 2028, when the integrated free transport support scheme is implemented, seniors who are not eligible for free city bus journeys cannot transfer between urban rail and free city buses.
Daegu City said, “Initially, after collecting and analyzing different opinions, the final plan was to be decided in March. “We made a quick decision on the policy based on the judgment that it could cause unnecessary misunderstanding,” he said.
Accordingly, Daegu City plans to make a legislative notice for 20 days from the 10th to the 20th after an internal legal review, and as soon as the legislative notice is over, the revised ordinance will be submitted to Daegu City Council in March.
Hong Joon-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, said, “We fully sympathize with the opinions of the elderly and the city council, and we will reduce unnecessary social conflict through prompt policy decisions.”
