It feels like everyone is waiting eagerly to get started with the cheap monthly pass. Unfortunately, the 9-euro ticket misses the reality of life for many people.
The 9-euro ticket is the number one topic of conversation, ahead of the tax cuts on fuel, the child bonus and other parts of the federal government’s relief package. It turns out that the issue of mobility literally moves people.
That’s not surprising either: more than half of Germans commute every day between 15 and 60 minutes to work and back. The costs for this have risen continuously in recent years, whether by car or in local public transport.
Thus, the inexpensive and, above all, uncomplicated monthly pass becomes a beacon of hope – after all, transport companies are not usually known for their transparent pricing policy.
Nevertheless, the 9-euro ticket works completely out of touch with the reality of life many people in Germany. This is shown by a survey by Infratest Dimap on who plans to claim the ticket:
- Small town residents: 30%
- Residents of medium-sized cities: 44%
- Residents of large cities: 60%
Long waiting times and ways
While in the metropolitan areas there is a tram, bus or train on every corner every few minutes, people in the country often have to long distances and waiting times accept.
If suddenly from a 20-minute drive to work, training, school or university
- 15 minutes walk
- 30 minutes drive
- another 10 minutes walk
then it simply puts users off. Older people are often less able to walk. Employees who start at 6 a.m. often have no suitable ride offer at all. Parents cannot pick up their children an hour later from daycare or school because of constantly late trains.
So what does it take? A reliable, well-timed local transport. Of course, the transport companies cannot suddenly catch up in three months with everything that Deutsche Bahn has overslept and delayed in the last few decades.
But maybe the 9-euro ticket is the first big step in the right direction.
make better use of the opportunity
Now you could say: People who live in the country and are dependent on the car will use the Tax reduction on fuel taken into account.
That’s true, but it’s definitely not a low price guarantee on Super and Diesel. Perhaps the oil companies sense even larger margins, so that not all of the planned savings of 30 cents per liter of super and 14 cents per liter of diesel end up reaching the consumer.
Besides, we should See the 9 euro ticket as an opportunityto reduce private car traffic throughout Germany, not just in and around the metropolises.
It just has to work
Despite all the challenges and points of criticism, I hope that the 9-euro ticket will be a complete success and maybe even after the intended period from September in an extension goes. Why?
- Every single car trip that we do without protects the environment and our own health. Whether in the city or in the country.
- In addition, a permanently affordable (or even free) public transport ensure more equality of opportunity would. People with a low income or low pension would have better opportunities to get from A to B – not only in everyday life, but also for recreation.
- It’s just annoying to have to be familiar with umpteen different transport companies and their tariffs. A simplified monthly pass like this can avoid a lot of frustration and makes traveling and commuting more relaxed.
Maybe this summer fairy tale will come true.