Since 1 July 2026, we have been implementing a new research project examining how the digitalisation of ticket sales affects access to public transport for Roma communities in Slovakia.

An increasing number of transport providers offer or prioritise online ticket purchasing. For many people, this is a convenient solution. However, not everyone has access to the internet, a smartphone, a bank account or a payment card, or has sufficient digital skills. For people living in marginalised Roma communities, these barriers can be even more significant.

If purchasing a ticket online is cheaper and more accessible, while offline ticket purchases involve an additional fee or ticket outlets are located far away, this may mean that some people have to pay more for travel. In some cases, public transport may even become inaccessible to them.

As part of the research, we are therefore documenting the experiences of Roma women and men when purchasing public transport tickets and examining the barriers they face. We are looking at access to the internet and digital devices, payment options, price differences between online and offline purchases, the availability of ticket outlets, and regional differences. We are collecting data through field research.

The research also has an important legal dimension. We are examining whether ticket sales systems may have a disproportionately negative impact on Roma people and whether, under certain circumstances, this could constitute indirect discrimination under Slovak anti-discrimination law and relevant European and international standards.

Our aim is to provide evidence of how the digitalisation of public transport affects people who do not have equal access to digital technologies and to identify solutions that ensure equal and non-discriminatory access to public transport. We intend to use the research findings to advocate for systemic changes and, depending on the findings, also for strategic litigation.