As an example, public transportation within the Melbourne city center is free, so one could take a free tram between Spring St and Docklands Dr:
The total distance (as the crow flies) between these two stops is 3.19 kilometers. Are there locations around the world where one could get farther by only utilizing free transportation?
The exact limitations are:
- The method of transportation must be completely free of charge.
- You cannot use any forms of self-propelled transport, such as bicycles. However you can use rickshaws or other forms of transport propelled by other humans.
- The location where the transport is located must be publicly accessible free of charge. This excludes things like animal safaris where you pay an entrance fee, but then get to use the buses free of charge.
- It must be available free of charge to any person regardless of citizenship, residency, age, occupation, gender or any other characteristic. This would disqualify Tallinn's public transit system, as it's only free for local residents. This likewise excludes Israel's system where transportation is free of charge for soldiers.
- You cannot walk for more than 500 meters at a time to switch between two stops. You cannot make use of paid transportation to switch between stops.
- Only distance as the crow flies between the two farthest stops counts, not the total distance spent within the vehicle.
- A stop is defined as a location where you can board or exit the free method of transportation.
- The transport must run regularly, not just as a one-off event.
- It must be free regularly, not just during special events. E.g. in some cities public transit is free during NYE celebrations. It's okay if it's only free on weekends for example, as long as it's every weekend.
- It's okay if you need to own a standard public transit card to use the free transport. E.g. it's okay if you need to own an Oyster card to use a given free bus in London, as long as no money is substracted from the Oyster card when you use.
- It's okay if you need to pay a fee to receive a visa to that country or need to spend some money to fly to that country first (thanks, @vsz)
- It's okay if the method of transportation is only free if you use a "hack" of some sort (thanks, @gparyani), as long as this hack allows for unlimited free transportation. E.g. it's okay to require one to sign-up for a free grocery store card to get access to a free bus.