City, country, traffic flow - state of changing mobility in Germany

We are in the year 2023 and the roads all over Europe are occupied by speed limits. All over Europe? No. A country populated by indomitable Teutons will not stop resisting the deprivation of freedom by road signs. Because the Germans' favourite remains their car. And where can you really let off steam if not on the motorway?

Well, our Dutch neighbours have lowered the speed limit even further in 2020 and only allow 100 km/h during the day. And what do the Dutch citizens say to that? "Thank you". Originally, not even half of them were in favour of the reduction. However, that has changed: In a recent survey, 60 per cent are now in favour of lowering the speed limit further to 90 km/h. In Germany, surveys show that the majority are in favour of a speed limit on motorways, too. In a survey conducted by the Federal Environment Agency in 2021, for example, 42 per cent were "definitely" in favour and 22 per cent voted "rather yes". For the FDP-led Ministry of Transport, however, a speed limit is inconceivable.

Unlike on the motorway, the idea of a speed limit in urban traffic meets with little public approval. A number of cities are currently examining how they can implement alternative, more people-friendly traffic concepts, but are encountering loud resistance. Due to the high volume of traffic, even more motorways are to be built and under no circumstances should there be a 30 km/h speed limit in city centres. Then everyone would need even longer to get to their destination. And especially in rural areas with a poorly developed public transport infrastructure, people naturally need their cars. How else is a 90-year-old granny supposed to get to the doctor? There are already plenty of ideas, such as on-demand shuttles, city buses and generally more frequent public transport.

And that's where we end up with a chicken-and-egg problem: people use their private cars because public transport is poorly timed and sometimes doesn't run at all after 7 pm. And public transport providers don't want to increase the frequency and length of services because the connections are underutilised. So the question remains: How can car drivers be persuaded to leave their vehicles at home?

Meanwhile, the Senate administration in Berlin has called on all districts to stop ongoing cycle path projects. "All projects that jeopardise even one car parking space or result in the removal of one or more lanes are to be temporarily suspended," according to German newspaper Tagesspiegel. Seems like for many citizens, the mobility of the future means "car(s) all the way" - sometimes supported by plausible arguments, sometimes by flimsy ones.

How does the situation surrounding mobility present itself in public discourse? What is the media saying? Are we reading about the possibilities of a brave new world with alternatives? The sad answer: not often enough. The majority of reporting on mobility in public spaces continues to revolve around cars in all their forms. Internal combustion engines may be on the verge of being phased out, but thanks to e-fuels, hydrogen and other fuels that have not yet been invented, many journalists continue to see the car as fit for the future, if not without an alternative. Meanwhile, electric cars are becoming more popular, but are still under the critical scrutiny of traditionalists. The usual knock-down arguments include the lack of range and the charging network, which is in need of expansion.

People with an affinity for technology may be following the developments surrounding autonomous cars. The headlines here alternately announce an imminent breakthrough - very soon, really - or the end of fully autonomous driving, at least for a decade. Promising projects are not yet scalable and driverless road vehicles remain a vision of the future. Even optimists only believe in the limited use of autonomous vehicles for the time being. In closed, non-public transport systems, such as warehouses or shuttle fleets at exhibition centres and airports, they can offer real added value.

We rarely read about other modes of transport. E-bikes, for example - especially when someone wants to point out the increased risk of accidents for inexperienced cyclists. Or about cargo bikes, which can cause parking problems in cities due to their size. And, of course, e-scooters, which are now being banned from some major cities. All of these negative messages resonate with readers and suggest that these modes of transport are unsuitable for contributing to future mobility.

And then there is the state of German rail transport, which commentators and columnists like to refer to when the railways go on strike again: the networks are overloaded, there are literal and metaphorical construction sites everywhere. Broken wagons and a lack of capacity for repairs and maintenance are the norm. Deutsche Bahn is an international object of ridicule.

So you can only come to one conclusion: In Germany, the only way is by car! Or is it?

In the summer of 2022, something happened in Germany that the boldest futurists had hardly dared to dream of. For nine euros a month, everyone was allowed to use all local public transport throughout the country. The ticket could be purchased easily via app, at the ticket counter or from a ticket machine. For three wonderful months, regional trains, underground trains and trams felt like the number one means of transport.

During this time, it became clear what role rail transport could play in the future. Demand was so high that the Deutschlandticket has now become a permanent fixture. Although it costs more than five times as much and has various bureaucratic hurdles, it is still a step forward that could hardly have been imagined before 2022: A ticket for the whole of Germany that could resolve the complexity of Germany's patchwork of transport associations. At a price that is significantly lower than, for example, a monthly ticket for longer journeys within a transport association.

The fundamental challenges in the rail network will of course remain for the time being: The train fleet is partially outdated, the infrastructure is prone to disruption and capacities are already barely sufficient. Deutsche Bahn has just announced a step towards at least reducing delays: in future, it will optimise arrival and departure planning with an AI solution. This should save up to 8 minutes per journey. The expansion of the rail network is in progress, but will take some time. A larger fleet and more frequent maintenance could help to reduce train delays and cancellations due to defects. At present, journey planning is so tight that every wagon that breaks down leads to overcrowded trains and wagons that should have been repaired long ago are still running. Modernised rail transport would offer a real alternative for the future.

Cities are often pioneers when it comes to the mobility transition because, in contrast to rural areas, they actually offer numerous options for getting around. You no longer need to own a car in the city. A bicycle, e-bike or cargo bike, which are often available as ride-sharing services, are ideal for short journeys, shopping and the like. If you do need a car, you can also book one via a ride-sharing service. These services are now also relying on a growing fleet of e-cars. In addition, public transport is usually well developed throughout the city.

In my view, what is missing in the discussion about the mobility of the future is more ideas and impetus to make it easier for people to switch means of transportation. We are in dire need of more creativity to create a real incentive to use alternatives. The city of Darmstadt, for example, has led the way here and has been rewarding people who deregister their car with a three-month public transport ticket for the greater Darmstadt area since 2022.

Simplicity is also always a good incentive. How nice would it be to have an application that allows you to book and pay for any means of transport in one place? The Deutschlandticket is a good first step, but why stop there? A service that displays real-time data across all modes of transport would be equally helpful: You could easily see whether the train is 20 minutes late, and whether you might be slower taking the car because there is a traffic jam on the route. Or whether you would rather hire a bike at the station because that would be the quickest way to get to your destination.

And finally, it would be desirable to move away from the mental mantra of "cars first". Traffic research has long proven that more lanes and larger roads do not lead to better traffic flow. Wider roads lure even more people into cars with the illusion of travelling faster. In the end, there are simply more vehicles stuck in traffic jams. Another challenge, especially in narrow (old) city centres: Car manufacturers are building their vehicles bigger and bigger. As a result, they occupy public space that could be used for other purposes. Some cars, for example, are simply too wide for one available parking space and therefore take up two. Optionally, they block pavements because they are significantly longer than the parking spaces. People with strollers or walking frames have to use the road.

Many cities in Germany and Europe are now examining how to achieve smooth-flowing traffic without compromising on quality of life. Some have transformed formerly busy motorways into small oases. It is worth taking a closer look at these projects. To show car-free alternatives and "re-park in your head". Because then the whole Teutonic country can celebrate together in the end.

Image sources: Denys Nevozhai on Unsplash / Urban Cycling Institute