Advocates for consumer rights call for adaptable work-from-home passes for daily commuters
In a recent statement, Klaus Müller, the board of the Federal Association of Consumer Centres (VZBV), has emphasised the need for the federal government to invest heavily in public local transport, which has suffered losses due to the ongoing crisis [1].
The main proposal related to flexible public local transport subscriptions in Germany revolves around extending and maintaining the Deutschlandticket. This nationwide, digital subscription ticket, costing €58 per month, covers almost all urban, local, and regional transport across the country, excluding most long-distance trains [2]. The ticket supports the demand for more flexible and equitable mobility access, adapting to varying commuting patterns, including remote work.
Key details about the Deutschlandticket and proposals responding to changing work habits include:
- The Deutschlandticket is a monthly subscription valid on nearly all local and regional public transport in Germany.
- The Federal Government is committed to funding this ticket with an allocation of €1.5 billion per year through at least 2026 to ensure its continuity and broad accessibility [3].
- The digital subscription model facilitates easy access and flexibility for users, aligning well with irregular commuting patterns caused by work-from-home arrangements.
- Ongoing projects, such as the collaboration between BVG (Berlin's public transport company) and ticketing/payment solution providers, aim to further simplify and digitalize ticket purchases and use, enhancing customer experience especially in cities.
While no official new "flexible" subscription offers specifically branded for work-from-home users have been highlighted in the latest data, the maintained and expanded Deutschlandticket effectively serves as a flexible, cost-effective public transport subscription option adaptable to fluctuating travel needs caused by remote work trends.
Müller has also expressed concerns about the political handling of the COVID-19 situation in relation to school equipment and federalism in Germany. He believes that the pandemic has shown that federalism in Germany needs to be reviewed in some areas, advocating for schools to be equipped with air filters and appropriate equipment to combat COVID-19 [4].
In addition, Müller suggests the need for flexible offers like a 'home office ticket' for individual weekdays in public local transport. He describes the extreme fragmentation of transport companies and associations in Germany as a significant issue and believes that the pandemic has revealed the need for more flexible public local transport offers to meet customer needs [5].
In summary, Germany's approach to flexible public local transport subscriptions amidst increased remote work focuses on the Deutschlandticket extension and modernization of digital ticketing/payment systems, supporting user-friendly, inclusive, and sustainable transport access. Müller's advocacy for flexible subscription offers and federal government investment in public local transport aims to create a more adaptable and customer-centric transportation system in the face of changing work habits and the ongoing pandemic.
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- The expansion and continuing operation of the Deutschlandticket, a monthly digital subscription ticket, is a key part of plans for flexible public local transport subscriptions in Germany, addressing the changing travel patterns brought about by remote work.
- Müller, from the Federal Association of Consumer Centres, has advocated for more flexible public local transport offers, such as a proposed 'home office ticket', to cater to customers' needs, especially in the context of the ongoing pandemic and increased remote work.
