To deal with rising food, energy and gasoline prices caused by the war in Ukraine and the sanctions against Russia, the German government has decided to offer citizens a plan where public transport will no longer be a burden on families’ budgets. For just 9 Euros (R$ 46) a month, a German will be able to use buses, trains and even ferries until the end of August.
A university student paid 60 Euros (R$308) per month to use public transport before the new program. The new figure will represent less than the average meal in the country, the equivalent of three glasses of beer, and an almost insignificant proportion of a worker’s income. For example, for some residents of Cologne, the monthly ticket price is lower than the daily rate for commuting between the city’s suburbs and the city centre. On average, the World Bank estimates GDP per capita in Germany to be 46,000 euros per year, while in Brazil it is only 6k euros.
The ticket reduction is part of the government’s broad package, which still offers reductions in fuel taxes, in hopes of reducing the price of a liter of gasoline to less than 2 Euros (R$10). The government has reduced the price of a liter by 30 cents as a precaution.
In May, inflation in Germany reached 7.9% as the war and sanctions in Ukraine greatly affected energy and food supplies.
In addition to the new ticket, which relieves families’ incomes, it is also responding to growing pressure from ecological parties who want to encourage the population to leave their cars at home and replace them with public transport.
For the plan to work, the central government will transfer €2.5 billion (R$12.8 billion) to the state governments. However, the cheapest ticket cannot be used for high-speed trains crossing the country.
Even so, the success of the venture is already evident. Even before it went into effect on June 1, more than 7 million Germans had received their permits. To benefit the government estimated 30 million people.
The German initiative does not take place alone. In Luxembourg, the government provided free transport for everyone in 2020. A limit of 3 € per day has been set for a person to use all the means of transport they need in Austria.
Across Europe, inflationary pressure has caused cities like Montpellier to radically lower bus prices, while Lisbon is considering providing free transport for seniors and students.
source: Noticias
