'Best idea we've had': Cheap transport pass drives down car use in Germany

In Germany's three-month affordable mobility experiment, figures show many of those buying the €9 monthly ticket were using rail and bus options instead of cars. Transport officials and commuters are now calling for the one-time-only campaign to be continued. Photo: dpa

After tens of millions of ticket sales, Germany’s mobility experiment allowing travellers unlimited access to regional and urban trains and buses has been deemed a success in reducing the number of people driving cars.

The €9 (RM40) monthly ticket, which allowed people to use all of Germany’s regional and local transportation networks – but not high-speed trains – in June, July and August, was sold 52 million times nationwide, transport officials have announced.