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Revolution in local transport: Free bus and train transport for the region!
Wolfsburg's local transport: Survey shows citizens' wishes for free and improved public transport. Financing remains a challenge.
Revolution in local transport: Free bus and train transport for the region!
A lot is happening in the area of local transport in the Peine, Gifhorn and Wolfsburg region. A recent online survey showed that there is strong interest in improved and even free transport options. A surprising 73.1% of respondents want better local transport, while 56.1% favor free local public transport (ÖPNV). Paz online reported. However, financing remains a challenge. Gisela Noske, spokeswoman for the Greater Braunschweig Regional Association, expressed concerns about the feasibility of these free offers.
The survey also showed that 76.8% of the 2,406 respondents cannot do without a car. Commuters in particular are affected by the region's traffic jams - 44% of the 1,299 participants said that traffic jams pose a significant difficulty on their way to work. “The situation can be rectified with functioning local transport,” emphasizes Noske.
Structures and challenges in local transport
Financing local transport is difficult because rail transport is mainly financed by the federal and state governments, while bus transport is the responsibility of local authorities. The region is currently recording a deficit of around 22 million euros annually on regional bus lines. These lines are of considerable importance for work, school and leisure traffic - around 1,500 trips are scheduled every day. In order to cover the deficit, increases in the association levy and budgetary savings are being discussed.
Thanks to the mobility compass, traffic planners are finding new approaches to improving urban traffic. This data-based model, which links commuter flows and traffic sensors, offers not only cities but also citizens the opportunity to reflect on their own mobility decisions and understand their effects. With the amendment to the Climate Protection Act 2021, the federal government is pursuing clear goals for reducing CO2 emissions in transport by 2030. Destatis highlights the importance of this data collection for the transport transition in German cities.
The role of public transport providers
In the broader context, we are observing that demand for public transport has been increasing again since 2022. Around 26 million passengers in Germany use buses and trains every day - public transport is therefore increasingly valued as an environmentally friendly alternative. Loud VDV Local public transport providers make an enormous contribution to reducing traffic volumes by saving 18 million car journeys every day and thus also reducing CO2 emissions by ten million tonnes per year.
The relevance of buses and trains is undisputed: in 2023, VDV member companies transported over 9.4 billion passengers. This is a clear sign that sustainable mobility is highly valued and that the industry plays a valuable role in combating traffic problems and promoting environmentally friendly alternatives.
In summary, it can be said that the Peine, Gifhorn and Wolfsburg region is facing an exciting but at the same time challenging time in the area of local transport. It remains to be seen what measures will ultimately be taken to meet the needs of the population and improve mobility in the region.