Overseas, a number of cities and countries have analyzed costs and the environmental impacts of auto travel and are now offering public transit for free.

And now that trend has extended to the United States.

Kansas City became the first major US city to make public transit free citywide in 2019.

Olympia’s local bus routes and intercity trains are now free in Washington.

In Arizona, Tucson’s transit services are all free.

In Virginia, Richmond and Alexandria’s bus system have followed suit.

Boston and New York City are testing several free bus routes to potentially adopt citywide.

And all this comes at a time when using a private car is about to become even more expensive as New York is set to implement a stiff surcharge for cars entering Midtown Manhattan.