Mobility Compass: What readers think about electric cars, speed limits and trains
If you want to answer big questions, it's best to start with an assessment. This is also the starting point of our special feature on mobility, which examines whether Germany is ready for the transport transition.
Where is transport policy going well? Where is it going poorly? What is the condition of bridges, roads, and railways? Are there enough parking spaces, bike paths, and space for pedestrians? We wanted to know this from you, dear readers, and that's why we asked you for the "Mobility Compass 2025."
It is the largest empirical survey on mobility and transport ever commissioned by media companies in Germany. The online questionnaires were available for one month, from March 27 to April 27. Almost 80,000 readers completed them anonymously.
Germany is not ready for the transport revolution! This thesis is the opening theme of our special feature on the mobility of tomorrow. The statement is provocative in its sweeping nature, inviting reflection, perhaps even contradiction – and that's exactly what it's meant to be. How do we get from A to B – quickly, safely, and with the least possible impact on the climate, the environment, and living spaces? This is what the next two weeks will be about. With 15 theses on 15 topics, we invite you to a critical dialogue. We will discuss nationally relevant problems, such as the ongoing rail crisis, the slow transition to electromobility, or the long road to self-driving cars. But we will also address the traffic situation in your region: bus connections, the reactivation of railway lines, and the bypass roads that have been promised for decades. We will explore all of these topics – in your print newspaper as well as on its digital channels.
Although the results are not representative of the entire population, they provide a good overview of how readers of regional media think about the transport transition.
One of the main statements: Germany is a car country – and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Around three-quarters of respondents use their private car several times a month. No other means of transport is as popular. 71 percent consider their car indispensable, while only eight percent believe they could easily do without it. 21 percent state that they could do without it, but don't want to.
Traditional combustion engines are the most popular powertrains; around 28 percent of survey participants would still choose gasoline and diesel when purchasing a new car. Around 22 percent would opt for hybrid versions with combustion and electric drive, while 20 percent favor pure electric cars. Another 20 percent are undecided.
There are several reasons for reservations about pure electric vehicles. The most important is the price. Two out of three respondents (68 percent) consider pure electric cars too expensive to purchase. Fifty-nine percent are concerned about the range and the poorly developed charging network, and 54 percent are concerned about the battery life. Forty-five percent consider the charging times too long. Conversely, combustion engine fans praise the good refueling infrastructure (68 percent), the long range (67 percent), and the sophisticated technology (59 percent).
Survey participants are also skeptical about another future technology: autonomous driving. The vast majority still want to steer, accelerate, and brake themselves. Only 22 percent would get into an autonomously controlled vehicle without a driver. Almost half (around 48 percent) rule this out for themselves. Thirty percent don't yet know whether they would use the technology.
Respondents are more flexible on the issue of speed limits. 53 percent would "fully" support a general speed limit of 130 kilometers per hour on German motorways, and another 15 percent would largely support it. Only 15 percent are strictly opposed to an upper limit, and another eight percent are "somewhat" against it. The old ADAC slogan "Free travel for free citizens" apparently no longer resonates with the majority of people.
In addition to cars, bicycles and e-bikes are also very popular: 57.5 percent of respondents pedal several times a month. Less than half (44 percent) regularly use buses and trains, and just under one in three (29.7 percent) walks longer distances. Motorcycles, taxis, car sharing, and e-scooters are of interest to only a minority.
This is consistent with the fact that commuters cite traffic jams and unsafe bike paths as the biggest obstacles on their way to work, with around 35 percent each citing traffic jams and unsafe bike paths. 20 percent of respondents complain about a lack of bike paths, and 27 percent about delays in public transport. Of those who drive to work, around 61 percent say that alternatives to the car take too much time or that there is no practical public transport option.
Public transport performed better in the survey than the constant criticism of the railway in the recent past would suggest. 39 percent fully or somewhat agree that buses and trains run on time. Another 31 percent believe that local public transport is at least "partially" punctual. A majority of respondents are also "somewhat" or even "fully" satisfied with connections (50 percent) and safety (54 percent).
Public transport receives poor marks for bicycle transport options, with only 16 percent of respondents reporting that they are "fully" or "fairly" satisfied. There is also room for improvement in accessibility. Only 27 percent consider public transport easy to use with strollers, walkers, or wheelchairs. Respondents also see room for improvement in equipping stops with seats or roofs to protect against rain and sun.
Readers considered the introduction of the Deutschlandticket (Germany Ticket) a particularly positive change in transport policy. Nearly one in three (29 percent) already uses it. Four out of five respondents (79 percent) appreciate that the ticket works nationwide and saves them from having to deal with regional fare models. 70 percent also say it saves them money compared to their current travel plans.
Even the price increase from €49 to €58 for the monthly subscription in January has had little impact on its popularity. 54 percent of respondents consider the current price reasonable. 16 percent would even be willing to pay a little more. Only about 30 percent consider the Deutschlandticket too expensive.
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