Editor in chief at IamExpat Media
Other cities in Germany should take note! Augsburg has just introduced a flat rate fee for all of its public transportation. That means that, for a fixed monthly rate, people can make unlimited use of all of the city’s buses, trams, car shares and rental bikes. It’s the first scheme of its kind in the whole of Germany.
Augsburg city authorities want residents to leave their cars at home and instead opt for public transportation. This goal came one step closer when, on November 1, their flagship “Mobil-Flat” scheme came into operation, the first-ever offer of its kind in the federal republic.
The idea behind the Mobil-Flat scheme is simple: for a fixed monthly sum, customers in the Augsburg city area will get unlimited use of all types of transport, including the city’s climate-neutral buses and trams as well as car shares and rental bikes.
Customers have the choice of two different packages: one costs 79 euros per month and the other 109 euros. While both packages permit unlimited use of buses, trams and rental bikes, they differ on car-sharing. With the small package, a subscriber can use a shared car for up to 15 hours or up to 150 kilometres a time, whereas the large package permits up to 30 hours and unlimited mileage.
The scheme is the outcome of a year-long test phase conducted by Augsburg Stadtwerke. The city has long been endeavouring to attract more people to use public transport. They are even planning to make all trams and buses within the “City Zone” free to use from 2020 onwards.
For the time being, the Mobil-Flat offer is available only to residents in the Augsburg city area, but depending on how people respond to it, it could be expanded to the surrounding areas. If it’s a success, other cities in Germany may even be inspired to follow suit.