The German city of Stuttgart has launched a new service meant to make the use of public transport even more attractive for locals – namely the year-round, 1-euro-per-day ticket that will become available to students and trainees starting 1 September 2020.
The 365-euro ticket is among the most well-received ideas in German cities that want to promote the use of public transport and to phase out traditional mobility options such as cars. The idea for the ticket is coveted by many administrations who see the example set by the Austrian capital of Vienna as a recipe for success.
Thinking about the future
The main goal of this new initiative is to create lasting behaviours in the city’s youth population. As explained by Stuttgart’s mayor Fritz Kuhn “We rely on strong local public transport. Even at a young age, traffic behaviour is shaped. That is why we want to introduce children and young people to public transport quickly. Those who start as a regular customer at an early age will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”
The decision to introduce the 365-euro ticket was taken last year in December by local authorities. It will enter into circulation at the start of the school year and will be subsidized mainly by the city’s budget. Authorities have set aside some 1.9 million euros for the implementation of the ticket in the last months of 2020 and will subsidize it with another 5.9 million euros each year in the future.
The head of the local public transport company Host Stammler stated his admiration for local authorities, citing that despite the extraordinary financial situation, they stuck to their previous commitment. “It cannot be taken for granted that the town council and city administration have stuck to the 365-euro ticket despite the financial uncertainties in Corona times. Such offers mean financial relief for families and also help public transport to stabilize in times of crisis. “
Source: TheMayor.EU
