At the same time, the fuel price was also subsidized, which however did not lead to a noticeable drop in petroleum product prices

The introduction of a single cheap monthly ticket for public transport across the whole of Germany for the summer period reduced traffic jams on German roads, GPS device company TomTom reported on Friday.

“There were fewer traffic jams in July compared to May, in 23 of the 26 cities where we conducted measurements,” Reuters quoted Ralf-Peter Schaefer as saying.

A week in July was selected for the measurement in which holidays had not yet begun in the cities where the measurement was conducted. The measurement also showed fewer traffic jams compared to the same period in the years before the pandemic.

“It may be too early to draw conclusions, but we believe that the reduction in the number of traffic jams is linked to the introduction of the 9-euro ticket,” Schaefer said.

As part of measures intended to ease the burden on citizens due to the sharp increase in energy prices, the German government introduced in June, for three months, a monthly public transport ticket costing 9 euros and valid throughout Germany for all means of local transport and an unlimited number of rides.

At the same time, the fuel price was also subsidized, which however did not lead to a noticeable drop in petroleum product prices.

German authorities are currently considering in what form they would encourage the use of public transport after August, when the three-month phase of the 9-euro ticket expires.

By mid-July, over 30 million monthly tickets had been sold at the discounted price. However, this measure also triggered numerous criticisms due to overcrowded trains which, partly because of chaotic situations, did not depart from stations.

Many people who use public transport to get to work announced that until this measure expires and the number of passengers decreases, they will use their personal cars.

Train user associations also pointed out that the three billion euros, which the ticket subsidy measure cost, could have been spent on modernizing the railway network.

Source: jutarnji.hr