‘The gates of paradise are open’: Contesting and producing publicness in the Brussels metro through fare evasion

Louise Sträuli and Wojciech Kębłowski
Additional contact information
Louise Sträuli: Tallinn University, Estonia; Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Wojciech Kębłowski: Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

Urban Studies, 2023, vol. 60, issue 15, 3126-3142

Abstract: Drawing on the example of the metro in Brussels, we examine public transport as a public space. We uncover how the conception of the metro and its fare system reflects an idealisation of public transport that conflicts with the daily experiences and structural inequalities among its users, manifested, in part, in fare evasion. We explore this practice through qualitative interviews, observational studies and analysis of online evader platforms. In contrast with existing research, we recognise fare evasion as a complex practice that challenges and shapes the publicness of public transport through knowledge exchange, solidarity building, social encounters and a redefinition of social norms.

Keywords: Brussels; fare evasion; fares; public space; public transport; å¸ƒé² å¡žå°” (Brussels); 逃票; 车费; 公共空间; 公共交通 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00420980221125671 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:60:y:2023:i:15:p:3126-3142

DOI: 10.1177/00420980221125671

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Urban Studies from Urban Studies Journal Limited
Bibliographic data for series maintained by SAGE Publications ().