Germany
will pilot free public transport in five cities to address environmental
concerns, local media reported on Tuesday.
Among the
cities considering the municipalisation of transport services are the former
West German capital, Bonn, and Essen, Reytlingen, Mannheim, and Herrenberg. The
municipalities selected have not yet been informed and any plans have not been
communicated to local authorities. In fact, Bonn’s Mayor Ashok Sridharan was
only informed of the plan during the weekend.
It is as
yet unknown how the cities would cope with excess demand for the free services
or the technology of the buses; currently, most cities use Diesel vehicles. The
biggest question is cost, as ticket sales cover half the cost of municipal
transport.
Germany
received a formal warning by the European Environment Commissioner, Karmenu
Vella, underlying the country’s failure to tackle its Carbon and Nitrogen Oxide
emissions. Brussels has given Germany and eight EU member states a deadline to
provide a clear roadmap for improving air quality standards; alternatively, the
Commission will take the case to the European Court of Justice.
Germany
continues to make heavy use of coal and is unlikely to meet its 2020 emission
goals.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/germany-considers-free-public-transport-address-air-quality-crisis/