“Car nation” Germany has surprised its European
neighbours with a radical proposal to reduce road traffic by making
public transport free, as Berlin scrambles to meet EU air pollution
targets and avoid big fines.
The move comes just over two years after Volkswagen’s devastating
“dieselgate” emissions cheating scandal unleashed a wave of anger at the
auto industry, a keystone of German prosperity.
“We are considering public transport free of charge in order to
reduce the number of private cars,” three ministers including
Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks wrote to EU Environment
Commissioner Karmenu Vella in the letter seen by AFP Tuesday.
The European Commission will decide next month whether to launch
legal cases against nine member states that are accused of breaking air
pollution action, after additional information was submitted at the
eleventh hour.
“Effectively fighting air pollution without any further unnecessary
delays is of the highest priority for Germany,” the ministers added.
The proposal will be tested by “the end of this year at the latest”
in five cities across western Germany, including former capital Bonn and
industrial cities Essen and Mannheim.
The move is a radical one for the normally staid world of German
politics – especially as Chancellor Angela Merkel is presently only
governing in a caretaker capacity, as Berlin waits for the centre-left
Social Democratic Party (SPD) to confirm a hard-fought coalition deal.
On top of ticketless travel, other steps proposed Tuesday include
further restrictions on emissions from vehicle fleets like buses and
taxis, low-emissions zones or support for car-sharing schemes.
Air pressure
Action is needed soon, as Germany and eight fellow EU members
including Spain, France and Italy sailed past a January 30 deadline to
meet EU limits on nitrogen dioxide and fine particles.
Brussels environment chief Vella gave countries extra time to present further pollution-busting measures or face legal action.
“Life-threatening” pollution affects more than 130 cities in Europe,
according to the Commission, causing some 400,000 deaths and costing 20
billion euros ($24.7 billion) in health spending per year in the bloc.
German motorists are ready, in theory at least, to abandon their cars
in favour of buses, trains and bikes, according to a new study.
EURACTIV’s partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
Countries that fail to keep to EU limits could face legal action at
the European Court of Justice, the EU’s highest tribunal, which can levy
fines on member states.
Even without the pressure from Brussels, air quality has surged to the top of Berlin’s priorities over the past year.
Suspicions over manipulated emissions data have spread to other car
manufacturers since Volkswagen’s 2015 admission to cheating regulatory
tests on 11 million vehicles worldwide.
Environmentalists brought court cases aimed at banning diesels from
parts of some city centres, and fears millions of drivers could be
affected spurred Chancellor Angela Merkel into action.
Titans like BMW, Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler or the world’s biggest
carmaker Volkswagen agreed to pay some 250 million euros into a
billion-euro fund to upgrade local transport.
The government “should make sure that the car manufacturers finance
the emergency measure” of free transport, Greenpeace urged, adding that
more parking and road tolls in cities could help reduce urban traffic.
On their own account, the auto firms have stepped up plans to
electrify their ranges, with a barrage of battery-powered or hybrid
models planned for the coming decade.
The coalition agreement between the German Conservatives and the
Social Democrats outlines a relatively ambitious energy
policy. EURACTIV’s partner Le Journal de l’environnement reports.
Feet of clay
Public transport is highly popular in Germany, with the number of
journeys increasing regularly over the past 20 years to reach 10.3
billion in 2017.
In comparison with other major European nations, tickets can be
cheap: a single ticket in Berlin costs €2.90, while the equivalent on
the London Underground costs €5.50 euros.
But cities were quick to warn that more planning was needed if free travel was to succeed.
“I don’t know any manufacturer who would be able to deliver the
number of electric buses we would need” to meet increased demand if
transport was free, Bonn mayor Ashok Sridharan told news agency DPA.
Meanwhile, Association of German Cities chief Helmut Dedy warned that
“we expect a clear statement about how (free transport) will be
financed” from the federal government.
Other attempts around the world to offer citizens free travel have failed, including in US city Seattle.
Ministers “should think again during a ride on the U6 (underground line) in Berlin at 7.30 am,”
Die Welt newspaper commented.
“The conclusion would be clear: more carriages, more personnel, and
maybe even more tracks and lines would be needed. Where would the
billions for that come from?”
