49-euro ticket is just the beginning: more than one in two people are interested in alternatives to their own car

Result

More than half of all German citizens support the use of public and more environmentally friendly means of transport and would even prefer them to their own car - provided that the alternatives are suitably good. In large cities, two thirds can even imagine doing so, while the figure is significantly lower among the rural population. The younger generation is also both more open to more sustainable means of transport and more determined to use them more often in future than the older generation, with almost one in two over 55-year-olds also willing to use attractive alternative options.

Reasons

There are numerous reasons for the growing interest among the population, ranging from increasing environmental awareness and financial savings to less stress when looking for a parking space. In metropolises in particular, corresponding offers have been created, leading to reduced exhaust emissions, less noise pollution and a lower vehicle density. In rural areas, the expansion of public transport and sharing services, such as rental bikes, e-scooters or car sharing, is progressing much more slowly and often does not pay off - at least economically - to the same extent as in large cities. As a result, the importance of owning your own car remains high, although many people in smaller municipalities are also interested in alternative options.
The higher level of approval among under 35-year-olds can be explained by a greater overall need for mobility and the fact that they rarely own a car. In contrast, many older citizens appreciate the simplicity and convenience of owning their own car, find e-scooters and rental bikes less attractive in old age and shy away from the technical challenges such as online registration, activation or mobile payment.

Forecast

Against the backdrop of climate change, the energy crisis and rising prices at petrol stations, the issue of sustainable mobility will become increasingly important in the future. Sharing services will therefore be expanded and available as an intelligent addition to an extended public transport network. Financial incentives such as the 49-euro ticket or free parking, as well as time benefits such as the shared use of bus lanes or more frequent services on individual bus and rail lines, can help to create more advantages for users of alternative transport methods, so that in addition to the benefits for the environment, a personal gain can also be recognised.