Sollte öffentlicher Nahverkehr kostenlos werden?

Simplicissimus

5 Apr 201805:07

Summary

TLDRThe video discusses the concept of free public transportation in Germany, exploring its economic, environmental, and social implications. It highlights the current costs, subsidies, and the potential savings from reduced ticketing infrastructure. While free transport could increase ridership and reduce pollution, it's costly and may not significantly shift car users to public transit. The video suggests combining free or affordable public transport with measures to make car use more expensive, like in Amsterdam, and implementing it where ticket revenue covers a small portion of costs, potentially improving mobility and quality of life.

Takeaways

🚌 The proposal to make public transportation free in some German cities is being debated seriously.
💶 Germany currently spends around 25 billion euros annually on public transportation, with only 37% of this covered by ticket sales.
🏙️ In metropolitan areas like Berlin, around 50% of public transport costs are subsidized, while in smaller, more spread-out cities, the percentage can exceed 80%.
💸 Implementing free public transportation nationwide would require at least an additional 12 billion euros per year in Germany.
🚍 Free public transport could lead to increased passenger numbers, necessitating investments in more vehicles and infrastructure.
💡 Savings could be made by eliminating the need for ticketing systems, which could account for 3-5% of operational costs.
🌟 There are potential indirect benefits to free public transport, such as improved city image, increased location quality, and property value increases due to better connectivity.
🚗 Reducing car usage could lead to significant savings on traffic-related costs, such as the 1.1 billion euros spent annually in Berlin.
🌱 Environmentally, fewer cars could mean lower CO2 emissions and better compliance with emission standards for pollutants.
🚶 Studies show that making public transport free does not automatically lead to a shift from car usage; other factors like flexibility, speed, and reliability play a significant role.
🌐 The social aspect of free public transport could improve quality of life for low-income individuals, students, and seniors by increasing mobility.

Q & A

What is the annual cost of public transportation in Germany?
-The annual cost for public transportation in Germany is approximately 25 billion euros.
How much of the public transportation cost in Germany is covered by ticket sales on average?
-On average, only 37 percent of the public transportation costs in Germany are covered by ticket sales.
What would be the additional annual cost for implementing free public transportation nationwide in Germany according to the German Transport Association?
-A nationwide implementation of free public transportation in Germany would require at least an additional 12 billion euros per year.
What are some potential savings if public transportation were free, in terms of ticketing infrastructure?
-If public transportation were free, there would be no need for ticketing systems, potentially saving on costs related to infrastructure, controllers, and sellers, which could account for three to five percent of operational costs.
How could the utilization of transportation vehicles potentially increase if public transportation were free?
-The utilization of transportation vehicles could potentially increase, as more people might use them, which could in turn lower the per-passenger transportation costs.
What are some non-quantifiable benefits of free public transportation mentioned in the script?
-Non-quantifiable benefits of free public transportation include image gains for cities, increased location quality, and the appreciation of real estate values due to better connectivity.
How much does traffic cost cities in terms of accidents, using Berlin as an example?
-In Berlin alone, traffic accidents cost the city 1.1 billion euros annually.
What impact could free public transportation have on CO2 emissions if people leave their cars at home?
-If people leave their cars at home due to free public transportation, it could reduce CO2 emissions and better comply with limits for nitrogen oxides and fine dust.
What has been shown in studies about people switching from cars to public transportation just because it's free?
-Studies in various countries have shown that car drivers do not simply switch to public transportation just because it's free, as cars offer more flexibility, are often faster, and are more reliable.
What social benefits could free public transportation bring, especially for certain groups of people?
-Free public transportation could improve the quality of life by making it more accessible for people with very low income and those without cars, potentially benefiting students, the elderly, and others.
What other measures could be combined with free public transportation to reduce the number of car drivers in cities?
-To reduce the number of car drivers in cities, free or very affordable public transportation could be combined with making car usage more expensive, such as through fewer and more expensive parking spaces, as has been effective in Amsterdam.
In which type of cities should free public transportation be introduced first, according to the script?
-Free public transportation should be introduced first in smaller and more spread-out cities where ticket sales cover only a small part of the costs.
What improvements in public transportation services could potentially encourage more people to switch from cars, besides just making it free?
-Improvements such as higher frequency, fewer breakdowns, and better reliability could potentially encourage more people to switch from cars to public transportation, even if it's not free.

Outlines

00:00

🚌 Free Public Transportation in Germany: Economic, Environmental, and Social Perspectives

The script discusses the debate in Germany about making public transportation free in some cities, including buses and S-Bahn. It highlights the economic aspect, noting that public transportation costs about 25 billion euros annually, with only 37% covered by ticket sales. In metropolitan areas like Berlin, around 50% of costs are subsidized, while in smaller, sprawling cities, the percentage can be over 80%. Implementing free transportation nationwide could require an additional 12 billion euros annually. The script also points out potential savings from not needing ticketing infrastructure and the possibility of increased ridership, which could lower per-passenger transportation costs. Environmentally, fewer cars could reduce CO2 emissions and improve air quality. However, studies show that making transportation free does not automatically shift car users to public transit due to the flexibility and reliability of cars. Socially, free transportation could improve quality of life for low-income individuals and those without cars, but the script questions whether the high cost is worth it, especially if it doesn't significantly shift car users. It suggests that free or low-cost public transportation could be more effective when combined with measures to make car use more expensive, such as expensive parking. The script concludes by emphasizing the importance of improving public transportation reliability and frequency to encourage a shift from car use, suggesting that free or very affordable public transportation could be a key step towards better quality of life and sustainable mobility.

05:03

🌐 More Content from Us: Explore the End Card

The second paragraph serves as a call to action for viewers to find more content from the creators. It invites viewers to check out the end card of the video for additional content, suggesting that there is a wealth of information and related topics to explore beyond the main discussion. This could include links to other videos, supplementary materials, or further resources that align with the themes discussed in the video, encouraging viewers to engage more deeply with the content and the creators' work.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Public Transportation

Public transportation refers to vehicles and systems that transport people around a city or region. In the video, the discussion revolves around the idea of making public transportation free of charge in some German cities, which includes buses and S-Bahn (urban rail system). The concept is central to the video's theme of exploring the economic, environmental, and social implications of such a policy.

💡Free of Charge

Free of charge means that there is no cost for a service or product. The video script discusses the proposal to offer public transportation services without any charge to the users. This concept is significant as it is the core of the debate on whether making public transportation free could be economically viable and beneficial for society.

💡Economic Aspect

The economic aspect pertains to the financial considerations and implications of a policy or decision. In the context of the video, it refers to the costs associated with public transportation in Germany, which are partially covered by ticket sales and largely subsidized. The video considers how making transportation free would affect these economic dynamics, including the potential need for increased subsidies and savings from reduced ticketing infrastructure.

💡Subsidies

Subsidies are financial assistance provided by the government or other entities to support certain industries or services. In the video, subsidies are mentioned as a significant part of the funding for public transportation, with the suggestion that making transportation free would require even greater subsidies, estimated at an additional twelve billion euros annually.

💡Investments

Investments in this context refer to the financial resources allocated to improve or expand infrastructure and services. The video mentions that free public transportation might necessitate investments in additional vehicles to accommodate an increased number of passengers, which is a critical consideration in the economic analysis of the proposal.

💡Ticketing Systems

Ticketing systems are the mechanisms used for issuing tickets for travel on public transportation. The video suggests that making public transportation free would eliminate the need for ticketing systems, which could lead to savings. This is an example of how the proposal could reduce operational costs by eliminating the need for ticket sales and control personnel.

💡Utilization

Utilization in this context refers to the rate at which public transportation vehicles are used or occupied by passengers. The video posits that free public transportation could potentially increase utilization rates, which could in turn lower the per-passenger transportation costs and might encourage more people to use these services.

💡Environmental Aspect

The environmental aspect considers the impact of a policy or action on the natural environment. The video discusses how free public transportation could lead to a reduction in private car usage, thereby reducing CO2 emissions and improving air quality. This is an important factor in the debate as it ties into broader goals of sustainability and environmental protection.

💡Social Aspect

The social aspect involves the impact of a policy or action on the well-being and quality of life of individuals and communities. The video highlights that free public transportation could enhance the quality of life for low-income individuals and those without access to a car, making it a more equitable and inclusive service. This aspect is crucial as it underscores the potential social benefits of the proposal.

💡Traffic Congestion

Traffic congestion refers to the situation where roads are excessively crowded with vehicles, leading to slow movement or standstills. The video mentions that reducing car usage through free public transportation could alleviate traffic congestion, which is a significant urban issue affecting quality of life and contributing to environmental pollution.

💡Sustainability

Sustainability in this context refers to the ability to maintain a certain process or state in the long term without depleting resources or causing environmental harm. The video argues that free public transportation is a step towards more sustainable mobility, which is essential for the future of growing cities facing challenges like air pollution and traffic congestion.

Highlights

Discussing the possibility of making public transportation free in some German cities.

Free public transportation could be considered under three aspects: economic, environmental, and social.

Economic aspect: Annual costs for public transportation in Germany are around 25 billion euros.

Ticket revenues cover only 37% of the costs on average, with the rest being subsidized.

Implementing free public transportation nationwide could require an additional 12 billion euros annually.

Increased passenger numbers would necessitate investments in more vehicles.

Cost savings could be achieved by eliminating the need for ticketing infrastructure and personnel.

Higher vehicle occupancy could potentially lower per-passenger transportation costs.

Potential indirect benefits include improved city image, increased location quality, and property value increases due to better connectivity.

Traffic accidents cost cities a significant amount, with Berlin spending 1.1 billion euros annually.

Reducing car usage could lead to lower CO2 emissions and better compliance with emission limits.

Studies show that making public transport free does not automatically lead to a shift from car usage.

Social aspect: Free public transportation could improve quality of life, especially for low-income individuals and those without cars.

Free public transportation might not be cost-effective as a standalone measure but could be effective when combined with others.

Introducing free or very affordable public transportation alongside making car usage more expensive could be effective.

In smaller and more spread-out cities, ticket revenues cover only a small part of the costs, making free public transportation more feasible.

In larger cities, starting with simpler and cheaper fare systems could be a trial before implementing free public transportation.

Improving public transportation reliability, frequency, and reducing failures could encourage more people to switch from cars.

Investing in public transportation is a crucial step towards better quality of life and sustainable mobility, especially in growing cities with traffic and pollution issues.