The air in German cities is too bad – Germany is refore threatened with an EU action. The federal government holds a free Nahverkehrfür a way to solve problem. This consideration is critically seen by municipalities. "This is a quick shot, which at most has a long-term perspective," said chief executive officer of German city and municipality association, Gerd Landsberg, of Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung. "The thrust is very surprising." So far, government has not talked about association.

Landsberg criticised need for such a step to make large investments in public transport. "Significantly more vehicles and staff" are required. Municipalities and transport companies could not assume costs incurred. Every year, public transport generates approximately 13 billion euros – se would be needed for operation.

According to Hamburg Transport Association (HVV), free public transport in Hamburg alone would cost as much as a new elbphilharmonie every year. The concert hall had been built for just under 800 million euros. By ticket sales, HVV receives approximately 830 million euros per year. "That's about a Elphi per year," said a spokesman. This sum would have to be paid by taxpayers.

The President of Association of Municipal Companies (VKU), mayor of Mainz, Michael Ebling, also criticized federal government's thrust. "The covenant must say how he wants to pay such a thing," said Ebling.

Doubts about rapid implementation

The federal government's reflections came from a letter from Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks (SPD), Minister of Transport Christian Schmidt (CSU) and Chancellor Chancellery Peter Altmaier (CDU) to EU Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella. Consequently, number of private vehicles and thus also number of dirty diesel cars should be reduced. First, re are five cities in which measure is to be tested: Bonn, Essen, Berg, Reutlingen and Mannheim. It is conceivable that confederation promotes cities that want to organise free local transport. However, many questions are still open.

With letter, federal government responded to repeated reminders from EU Commission to introduce measures for air purity. Germany is threatening a complaint from EU because limit values for nitrogen oxide emissions have not been observed in many cities for years. These are considered to be harmful to health. In addition, re is a threat of compulsory driving bans for diesel vehicles in Germany.

There should be no prohibition of thinking in avoiding driving bans – each of proposals mentioned in letter is worth, said VKU chief Ebling. "Free public transport is a visionary concept that needs a number of test balloons in any case. Because it's not that simple. " Promoting more people by public transport means also buying new buses and trams and adapting m to infrastructure and schedules. In short term, such a thing cannot be put into place.

"Cloudy Announcements"

The federal manager of German environmental Aid (duh), Jürgen Resch, criticized that letter of Federal Ministers to European Commission does not in any place have a clear commitment, but merely "cloudy announcements". Although a possible free public transport is a real step. "Only infrastructure that has been broken down for years must also be appropriate." Thus, age of buses in Germany averaged more than nine years. The quality of exhaust gas purification is accordingly poor. German environmental aid is currently conducting processes in several German cities in order to comply with pollutant limit values.

The grand coalition has been largely idle in public transport in cities for years, criticized also by Green Bundestag group vice-president Oliver Krischer. "Now in a letter to Brussels to come with proposals that are not even mentioned in coalition agreement is unbelievable." A free public transport is interesting, but does not solve acute problem of dirty air. To really do something about dirty air, one must introduce blue plaque and oblige manufacturers to retrofit rigged vehicles at ir own expense. "But federal government has been denying this for years."

Green Transport politician Stephan Kühn said that free public transport is a tempting idea. But "Billboard claim" goes past target. Those who want to strengn public transport must quickly ensure that buses and trains run at a more dense pace, thus satisfying already increasing demand for passengers. Cities urgently need more capacity in public transport. For this to be invested in new S-Bahn and City railway lines, more vehicles and personnel in transport companies.

Date Of Update: 15 February 2018, 12:03