Plankning

Swedish word for evading metro fares.

In outlining money-saving tips for the Krona-conscious, Swedish paper The Local noted:

Of course, some of the naughty among us save money by eschewing travelling expenses through plankning, a Swedish word for the act of dodging your travel fare by jumping over the turnstiles in the underground.

In 2004, plankning was such a problem that The Localreported, “Stockholm’s transport budget is … being eaten away by people who don’t pay their way on public transport,” noting that the plankareoperate with “apparent immunity.” (Click here for a Swedish TV news clip that shows some of the various plankning techniques.)

Stockholm’s more dedicated plankare have even established an insurance scheme that, for a monthly fee of 100 SEK ($12), settles the 1,200 SEK ($145) fine of members who are caught dodging their fare. The Plankakassan insurance scheme is operated by Planka.nu – a pressure group that argues,

The public transportation should be like the sidewalk – paid by all, free to walk on. It would be as absurd to charge for it, as charging for public transportation.