Germany’s flat-rate public transport ticket does not significantly reduce car use – report

The flat-rate 'Germany Ticket' for public transport has not led to a significant reduction in car use, said a report by the Technical University of Munich. Data collected via surveys and smartphone apps show that only one in five new subscribers have used their car less. Among people who already had another form of public transport subscription prior to the introduction of the Germany Ticket in May 2023, only seven percent reduced their car use. Overall, the number of people with a public transport subscription rose ten percent with the introduction of the Germany ticket. “Noteworthy carbon emissions savings are not yet observed”, the report said. But it still concluded that the ticket is “partially successful in moving Germany towards a more sustainable transportation system” because it raised the profile of public transport.

The Germany Ticket is a monthly subscription which allows buyers to use regional public transport across the country for 49 euros per month. “Now, however, it is urgent to further expand the public transport services nationwide in order to enable even more people to actually use the ticket in a meaningful way,” said lead author Allister Loder. The current Germany Ticket initially runs until 2025. There have been discussions about who should bear the cost, which is now split between the German state and local governments. Whether the price will stay at 49 euros or will increase in 2024 remains uncertain.