Luxembourg makes bus and train travel free. Germany could learn a lot from its small neighbor in transport policy, says the association of cities and municipalities, and makes federal, state and local authorities responsible.
Berlin / Luxembourg (dpa) - With its policy for more public transport, Luxembourg can also be a model for German cities and regions.
This said the spokesman for the German Association of Cities and Towns, Alexander Handschuh, the German Press Agency. It is not just about switching to free bus and train travel in the Grand Duchy from this Saturday onwards, said Handschuh. Luxembourg could be a role model, because with an overall concept it "tries very consistently to strengthen local public transport".
The free offer for public transport could "certainly be one of the steps" of the future for Germany as well, said Handschuh. However, this alone is not enough to turn the traffic around. The decisive factor is the conversion of the traffic area, the expansion of the offers, the improvement of the quality.
"We need a master plan for the traffic turnaround," demanded Glove. "We have to move away from the car-friendly city as we planned and built it in the 1960s and 1970s, to a city that was made for people and citizens - and which then gives priority to cycling, pedestrian traffic and for public transport. "
The turnaround in traffic means "billions in costs for Germany - and is a long process. The federal, state and local authorities would have to show a bit more determination," said Handschuh work more with one car and one person ". New solutions are needed for reasons of climate protection and environmental protection. And it is about quality of life." If the cities are more and more congested and the congestion times increase, then it is not nice. "
As of this Saturday, Luxembourg with around 620,000 inhabitants will be the first country in the world where all public transport is free. Bus and train lines are being massively expanded. Luxembourg is investing around four billion euros in rail alone from 2018 to 2027.
Free mobility in public transport in Luxembourg
The new Tramsschapp
German Association of Cities and Municipalities on Public Transport