resistanceThe prices of diesel and gasoline have risen rapidly. Many commuters complain that this makes their car travel more expensive. But do employees really switch from cars to public transportation and use climate-friendly alternatives to get to work? So far, even in statistical surveys, there is almost no evidence of this.
Cars are still the most important means of transportation for German office workers on their way to work. In 2020 and 2021, 68% of commuters drive to work. Only 13% of commuters regularly use public transportation. Only one tenth of the cycle. According to the Federal Statistical Office, this has not changed in the past few months. In the “Commuter Survey” issued by the Federal Statistical Office in September and conducted every four years, it is clear that the percentage of each mode of transportation has remained almost unchanged compared to 2016. One reason is that some road users have switched from local public transportation to cars to avoid a higher risk of infection on buses and trains.
Travel less, but farther
Commuters in Germany are still high and are increasing again. More than 19 million Germans commute loudly in 2020 Federal Work Agency“Despite the increase in gasoline and diesel prices, we have not seen any incremental changes in transportation options,” said Philipp Kosok, a transportation scientist who is studying the future of commuting at the Agora Energiewende think tank in Berlin. In 2020, the number of commuters driving across city boundaries to work was 19.9 million, which is more than 30% higher than the 14.9 million in 2000.
The negative impact of commuting distance can also be observed. Since 1976, the average distance of traffic during peak hours has almost doubled, increasing from 8 kilometers to 16 kilometers. Due to the possibility of mixed work, the commute frequency is lower, but the distance is greater. “Especially the high mobility of commuters who commute between German metropolitan areas can cause high energy loads,” said a traffic researcher. The distance between fifty, one hundred or more kilometers will also increase. Therefore, solutions are needed to reduce emissions and costs.
Ride-sharing companies are becoming more and more popular
Kosok said that one way to solve the commuting problem is to use car-sharing agencies. When commuting in Germany, there are only 1.075 people in the car on average; more passengers in the car can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and costs. According to Eurostat data for 2020, despite rising energy prices, Germany is one of the least popular countries for European car sharing agencies. Only 2% of Germans use online discounts. Estonia is the leader in Europe, with 22% of people using carpooling services. In France, this ratio is 12%.
Such discounts have existed in Germany for decades. In 2005, the Commuter Portal was launched, one of the earliest car-sharing agencies in Germany, founded by Frank Dalock. For two or three years, he has been seeing the revival of the carpooling program. Many municipalities will require the establishment of a regional commuter portal. “Interest has greatly increased,” he said. Municipalities, federal states, and companies have obtained permission to customize the commuter portal. His clients are Brandenburg, the Rhine-Ruhr Transport Association and Evonik Industries. Today 150 cities and regions use commuter portals. He can feel that there are more and more users, but he can’t say whether this is related to fuel prices. The portal is especially successful when the transportation association integrates it into their system.
