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Welfare Ticket Atlas for Germany. Where the state subsidises public transport for low-income residents
Citation Link: https://doi.org/10.15480/882.13683
Publikationstyp
Text
Date Issued
2025-03
Sprache
German
Herausgeber*innen
TORE-DOI
Citation
Technische Universität Hamburg (2025)
Peer Reviewed
false
Public transport is key to inclusion for people on low incomes, but fares are a major barrier in their everyday life. While a nationwide subsidy for the €58 “Deutschlandticket” was under discussion, it will not be introduced in the foreseeable future. Instead, 31 federal states and local authorities offer subsidies, with hundreds of municipalities continuing to offer their local welfare tickets.
This atlas maps the welfare tickets in Germany for the first time. Granted according to various criteria, they are differentiated by fare type, price, area of validity and eligible group, among other categories. A comprehensive and openly available data set, the atlas contains an explanation for each ticket as well as useful links for further information.
The atlas shows that 48 percent of “Bürgergeld” welfare recipients can purchase the “Deutschlandticket” for a discounted price. Furthermore, 71 percent have at least one welfare ticket available where they live. There are more than 200 offers, including several pay-as-you-go tickets and travelcards as well as two municipalities with free travel. In most cases, these tickets are facilitated by a social pass, which is usually issued to people on welfare allowance such as “Bürgergeld” or “Grundsicherung im Alter”. Subsidies are often granted in urban areas where public transport provision is relatively good. In contrast, the vast majority of rural areas has no welfare ticket. 243 districts and municipalities do not; and in at least 148 cases the implementation of a local welfare ticket has failed.
The wide range of welfare tickets reflect Germany’s political federalism. Further, this comprehensive data set shows that the public transport system demands a lot from those entitled to buy a welfare ticket. For example, there are no standardised criteria for issuing tickets and information shared between authorities is often redundant, either outdated or sometimes even contradictory. A first step could be to standardise the criteria in order to lower the access hurdle for the target group. A solution that ties in with the regular Deutschlandticket would be in the interests of those eligible: a social Deutschlandticket that is subsidised equally everywhere and is valid nationwide.
This atlas maps the welfare tickets in Germany for the first time. Granted according to various criteria, they are differentiated by fare type, price, area of validity and eligible group, among other categories. A comprehensive and openly available data set, the atlas contains an explanation for each ticket as well as useful links for further information.
The atlas shows that 48 percent of “Bürgergeld” welfare recipients can purchase the “Deutschlandticket” for a discounted price. Furthermore, 71 percent have at least one welfare ticket available where they live. There are more than 200 offers, including several pay-as-you-go tickets and travelcards as well as two municipalities with free travel. In most cases, these tickets are facilitated by a social pass, which is usually issued to people on welfare allowance such as “Bürgergeld” or “Grundsicherung im Alter”. Subsidies are often granted in urban areas where public transport provision is relatively good. In contrast, the vast majority of rural areas has no welfare ticket. 243 districts and municipalities do not; and in at least 148 cases the implementation of a local welfare ticket has failed.
The wide range of welfare tickets reflect Germany’s political federalism. Further, this comprehensive data set shows that the public transport system demands a lot from those entitled to buy a welfare ticket. For example, there are no standardised criteria for issuing tickets and information shared between authorities is often redundant, either outdated or sometimes even contradictory. A first step could be to standardise the criteria in order to lower the access hurdle for the target group. A solution that ties in with the regular Deutschlandticket would be in the interests of those eligible: a social Deutschlandticket that is subsidised equally everywhere and is valid nationwide.
Subjects
Welfare Ticket
Public Transport
Transit
Transport Disadvantage
Transport Poverty
Poverty
Social Inclusion
Transport Policy
Germany
GIS
Armut
ÖPNV
Nahverkehr
Sozialticket
Mobilitätsarmut
DDC Class
388: Transportation
360: Social Problems, Social Services
300: Social Sciences
320: Political Science
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