article

Let’s enjoy urban mobility together!

Posted: 15 February 2008 | Wolfgang Tiefensee, German Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs | No comments yet

The quality of life in our urban and rural areas is directly related to the quality of local public transport. Local public transport in Germany is indispensable, for ecological reasons and to ensure mobility for everyone. This is true of both conurbations, with their dense networks of rapid transit systems, underground railways, buses and trams, and of rural areas.

Climate change and demographic trends make it imperative for us to evolve and advance local and public transport in Germany, and we intend to do so. There is a clear need in the population for high-quality, efficient, reasonably priced, safe and secure local public transport. Each day, approximately 28.5 million passengers use local public transport. In mathematical terms, this is the equivalent of 18.5 million passenger car journeys. In 2006, the number of users rose to approximately 10.4 billion passengers.

The quality of life in our urban and rural areas is directly related to the quality of local public transport. Local public transport in Germany is indispensable, for ecological reasons and to ensure mobility for everyone. This is true of both conurbations, with their dense networks of rapid transit systems, underground railways, buses and trams, and of rural areas. Climate change and demographic trends make it imperative for us to evolve and advance local and public transport in Germany, and we intend to do so. There is a clear need in the population for high-quality, efficient, reasonably priced, safe and secure local public transport. Each day, approximately 28.5 million passengers use local public transport. In mathematical terms, this is the equivalent of 18.5 million passenger car journeys. In 2006, the number of users rose to approximately 10.4 billion passengers.

The quality of life in our urban and rural areas is directly related to the quality of local public transport. Local public transport in Germany is indispensable, for ecological reasons and to ensure mobility for everyone. This is true of both conurbations, with their dense networks of rapid transit systems, underground railways, buses and trams, and of rural areas.

Climate change and demographic trends make it imperative for us to evolve and advance local and public transport in Germany, and we intend to do so. There is a clear need in the population for high-quality, efficient, reasonably priced, safe and secure local public transport. Each day, approximately 28.5 million passengers use local public transport. In mathematical terms, this is the equivalent of 18.5 million passenger car journeys. In 2006, the number of users rose to approximately 10.4 billion passengers.

In some large towns and cities, buses, trams and trains account for over 50% of all passengers travelling to school and work. 86% of all households are within ten minutes’ walk of a local public transport stop, which means that we have impressive network coverage. Buses, trams and trains ease the burden imposed on our towns, cities and conurbations by private transport, ensure uniform standards of living in the regions and, by reducing climate change emissions, make a significant contribution to environmental protection. Last but not least, they are a positive factor influencing investors’ decisions on where to locate and create jobs.

In Germany, the provision of local public transport services is primarily the responsibility of the federal states, districts and municipalities. This means that decisions are taken at a local level. The Federal Government promotes attractive, fast, affordable and environmentally friendly local public transport by providing around €7 billion in the form of state subsidies for local and regional passenger rail services. In addition, the Federal Government provides €332.6 million every year from the Local Authority Transport Infrastructure Financing Act to fund railway infrastructure for local public transport in conurbations. As far as transport in municipalities is concerned, the Federal Government provides approximately a further €1.3 billion each year to support the federal states.

In addition, operators receive assistance in the form of a number of tax breaks. Thus, for instance, local public transport is subject to a reduced rate of turnover tax (7%). Upon request, operators are reimbursed around 40% of the ecotax they pay on fuels. In addition, buses and coaches used predominantly on local and scheduled services are exempt from motor vehicle tax.

Demographic trends are another factor that will increase the importance of local public transport. Studies have shown that more and more elderly people are switching from their cars and using public transport. Demographic change and budgetary constraints mean that Germany faces major challenges here. First and foremost, it is a question of maintaining an economically efficient range of local public transport services. That is why we need new approaches and new ideas. The Federal Government is thus supporting appropriate research projects.

One factor that has a major influence on the quality of life in our towns and cities is the way in which they organise their local public transport. In this context, they have to ensure that links are provided to and from their urban fringe. All sections of the population have to enjoy mobility.

Urban transport is thus an issue of great importance, and it is likely to become even more important in the future. That is why it is very good news that the European Commission has recognised the strategic importance of this issue for transport policy and has presented a green paper on the subject. Of course, we in Germany will take care to ensure that there is no interference with local self-government when local authority issues are being addressed. After all, who is better placed to evolve urban transport in a dialogue with the citizens than the local authorities? If we succeed in combining this dialogue with the wealth of experience of European cities and the lessons to be learned from it, everyone will benefit.

Related people