| Planka.nu | |
 | |
| Founded | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Website | planka.nu |
Planka.nu is a network of organizations inSweden promotingtax-financedzero-fare public transport with chapters inStockholm,Gothenburg,Skåne andÖstergötland.[1] Planka.nu was founded in 2001 by theSwedish Anarcho-syndicalist Youth Federation in response to the increasingly expensive ticket prices in thepublic transport system in Stockholm. The campaign has received much attention because of the controversial methods used to promote freepublic transport: Planka.nu encourage people tofare-dodge in the public transport,[2][3] aiding its members in payingpenalty fares through the insurance fundp-kassan.[4]
In 2001, the Stockholm chapter of the Swedish Anarcho-syndicalist Youth Federation (Swedish:SUF, Syndikalistiska Ungdomsförbundet) launched the campaign Planka.nu (literally,fare-dodge.now) as a reaction to a rise in ticket prices by theStockholm County Council.[1] The domain name.nu, which belongs to the260-square-kilometre (100 sq mi) island ofNiue but is sold primarily to foreigners, was chosen because it means "now" inSwedish. The standardtop level domain for Sweden is.se.
With growing membership and interest, the campaign was detached from the SUF to form an independent organization. Local organizations have since started up inGothenburg in 2003,Östergötland in 2005 andSkåne in 2009.[1] A sister organization,pumm.it has been created inHelsinki,Finland.[5] In November 2008, Planka.nu releasedFreepublictransports.com, a global forum for the free public transport movement.
Ticket fares in Stockholm have increased dramatically over time. By one measure—single ticket price for a 10-kilometre (6.2 mi) journey—Stockholm has the most expensive-to-use public transport in the world, as of March 2009.[6]
In the tradition of theItalianautonomists,[7] Planka.nu advocateself-reduction, where the price of theservice is determined by theconsumer.[8] Whereas in other cases this is done in agreement with (at least some)employees of theservice provider, in the case of Planka.nu fare-dodgers are encouraged to evade fares without seeking permission.
Since its conception Planka.nu has broadened its methods and now functions as athink tank with public transport,urban planning andclimate change as its main areas of focus,[2][9] as well as an insurance fund. The network also uses standardleftist methods, such asrallies,[10]adbusting,[9] andpamphlets.[11] Together with refugee rights organizationIngen människa är illegal, the Swedish chapter ofNo one is illegal, Planka.nu provides tickets forimmigrants living in Sweden withoutasylum,[12] since apaperless immigrant might otherwise be reported to the police and deported if caught riding without a ticket.
Failing to purchase a ticket or traveling using an incorrect pass is subject to apenalty fare of 1200SEK in the public transport systems of Stockholm,[13] Gothenburg[14] and Östergötland.[15] In return for a membership fee (paid monthly or biannually) members are refunded by Planka.nu if fined, through the solidarity fundP-kassan.[4] Net income from p-kassan is used in the aforementioned partnership withNo one is illegal and to finance the production of flyers, stickers, folders, web pages and other information material. All members of Planka.nu workpro-bono.[12][16]
In December 2009,Västtrafik accused the Gothenburg chapter of operating an unauthorized insurance.[16][17]
Planka.nu and its organizers have seen substantial criticism, primarily by politicians and transportation companies in each city. The network has been reported to the police forincitement byStorstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL),[18] Västtrafik and ÖstgötaTrafiken, who believe that Planka.nu engages in illegal activities. As of today, no charges have been made. Planka.nu themselves believe that their activities do not conflict with existing legislation.[19]
Many critics believe thatfare evasion leads to reduced funds and higher costs for public transport, which must be offset by higher prices for those who do pay their fares.[17][20]
In 2004, theStockholm University Student Union received media attention after first permitting a meeting of the network on its premises and later barring Planka.nu when criticism was voiced.[21]
Planka.nu has released four largerpolicy papers:Highway to Hell? criticizing the plans for the expressbeltwayFörbifart Stockholm aroundStockholm,[22]Travel Doesn't Have to Cost the Earth proposing a set of measures to make the transport sector in Stockholm moreclimate-friendly,[23]Till varje pris? (At any cost?) a report about the costs of ticketing in the public transport system in Stockholm,[24] andTrafikmaktsordningen (The Traffic Power Structure) regarding thehierarchies oftransportation and how it relates tosocial mobility andclass.[25]
In 2011Trafikmaktordningen was published as a book in Sweden.[26] Since then, it has been translated into German,[27] English[28] and Brazilian Portuguese.[29]
P-kassan är en solidaritetskassa. Som medlem hjälper du andra plankare att få sina böter betalda. När du själv åker fast är det andra plankare som betalar din tilläggsavgift.
In Stockholm it costs $4.88 for a single journey of 10km on public transport, the highest cost in a study of 73 cities byUBS, a Swiss bank.
Organisationen planka.nu bedriver försäkringsverksamhet, säger Johnny Bröndt (M), vice ordförande i Västtrafiks styrelse. [...] Så vet jag vet har planka.nu varken tillstånd till försäkringsverksamhet eller deklarerar intäkter, utgifter och eventuellt överskott. Det är inte längre någon ideell organisation.
200 miljoner kronor om året kostar fuskåkandet SL varje år. Enligt företaget gör det månadskortet 50 kronor dyrare än vad det skulle behöva vara.
