Mobility transition is not just about e-cars

Ever since there has been talk of an ecological turnaround in the transport sector and an end - or at least a significant limitation - of the emissions caused in the process, the car industry and politicians alike have been pushing for the role of electric cars. The electric motor would have been the cornerstone of more environmentally friendly mobility. But, as statistics and changes in public attitudes towards the electric car and the car in general show, it would by no means be the only key component towards a more climate-friendly transport system.  

The popularity of the private car has declined massively. As a survey by the information and telecommunications industry association Bitkom shows, 36% of respondents drive their cars less often than before - as many as 96% of those interviewed said they had changed their driving behaviour in recent years.  Whether this is their contribution against climate catastrophe - as 55% of the study participants confess - or a reaction to current world events such as the energy crisis or subsidy measures that make alternative modes of transport more attractive. Despite a few exceptions, the trend shows that fewer and fewer cars are driving on the streets of German cities. And that these are actually slowly losing their status symbol to, for example, car sharing and ride sharing.  

Insisting only on the promotion of electromobility, as if it were the only way to enable cleaner mobility - even if it is still considered cleaner than combustion engines - does not give a representative picture. This is because bicycles, for example, have also become significantly more important in terms of citizens' mobility habits. According to the Bitkom survey, almost 40% of respondents have confirmed that they are on their bikes more and more often. As well as the many others who have switched to public transport, especially as part of the 9-Euro-Ticket offer - and would rely on it even more if public transport connections were more reliable, cheaper and sufficiently accessible even in rural areas.

If driving behaviour among the population is to change so consistently and move more and more away from private cars, it might also be necessary to change different regulations - and adapt them to roads with increasing numbers of bicycles, trains and buses. For example, petrol and diesel driving bans would become less important as the number of internal combustion vehicles decreases - and the rules for environmental zones could also include all types of vehicles, provided that pollutant emissions of all kinds are included.  

However, such a future still seems a long way from reality. According to the survey, 36% of respondents are not yet prepared to abandon their cars. If German cities want to reduce the number of private vehicles on the road, many measures are still needed to promote and support the traffic turnaround. Such as car-free city centres, driving bans and discounted public transport - many of these have already achieved positive results and made several people rethink their way of thinking about mobility. With more commitment from the citizenry and politicians, at the authorities and in the cities - as well as an appropriate mix of mobility forms - there is still hope for a green transport turnaround.