An annual ticket for 365 euros – that is the idea of ​​the left. The district council counters: There is a lack of financial strength for such a measure.

The new attractive offers for local public transport (ÖPNV) after the end of the 9-euro campaign at the end of August will continue to be discussed controversially. The left calls for the 9-euro monthly ticket to be offered until the end of the year and then for an annual ticket for 365 euros to be introduced.

The German District Association considers such benefits to be unaffordable and instead advocates investing more money in the renovation and expansion of public transport.

“The Pentecost weekend showed that there is a huge need for cheap ticket prices,” said left-wing transport politician Bernd Riexinger to the editorial network Germany (RND). “However, it would be a joke if after three months the prices rose above average, also because of the high energy costs.”

Free tickets for certain groups

The financing of public transport must be placed on a new basis. “The traffic light has to deliver here. I welcome the fact that the Association of Towns and Municipalities, environmental organizations, trade unions and social organizations are in favor of inexpensive public transport,” added Riexinger. A 365-euro annual ticket supplemented by free tickets for schoolchildren, trainees, students and low-income households is “a good idea as a follow-up model”.

The district association, as the umbrella organization for all districts, refused to update the 9-euro ticket. “The corona-related loss of income and the existing investment backlog alone are a heavy burden on the transport associations and thus on the districts and cities,” said district president Reinhard Sager to the RND. “Therefore, there is a lack of financial strength to improve the clock or expand offers, with massively discounted tickets the financial basis is further weakened.” The money must be invested wisely. And a good performance must ultimately “have a price for the population,” said Sager.