Greenpeace got to the bottom of the question of how affordable public transport is in a total of 30 European countries. Austria came third in this ranking – but Vienna only took eighth place in the capital’s ranking. According to the environmental organization, the Danube Metropolis lacks offers for people with disabilities to achieve a better ranking.
The summary of the environmental protection organization is: There is still no “ideal climate map” across Europe, but interesting initiatives have been found in Austria, Estonia, Germany, Luxembourg, Malta and Spain. These positive examples can be improved, strengthened and expanded. The report also shows that climate tickets are booming in Europe – Austria reached third place thanks to the climate ticket introduced in 2021.
“Affordable climate tickets are crucial in the fight against the climate crisis”
“Traffic is the biggest climate killer in Austria, about a third of all greenhouse gases are produced here. At the same time, millions of people depend on buses, trams and trains to get to work, school or to visit their family and friends. Affordable climate tickets are crucial in the fight against the climate crisis and the rising cost of living,” said Marc Dengler, climate and energy expert at Greenpeace in Austria. On the occasion of the report, Greenpeace called for an affordable European climate ticket and other discounts on Austrian public transport tickets.
London and Dublin are the most expensive cities
A total of four criteria were assessed, namely the simplicity of the ticketing system, full-price long-term tickets, discounts for socially disadvantaged groups (elderly, students, low-income and disabled people) and the VAT rate. The lack of a climate map and very high tax rates would make public transport complicated and expensive in Croatia and Bulgaria, for example, while London and Dublin are among the most expensive cities.
“Austria and Vienna should not shy away from a comparison across Europe, the affordability of public transport is impressive. But the traffic turnaround does not stop at the Austrian border. Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler must now think beyond Austria’s borders with her flagship project ‘climate ticket’ and campaign for a Europe-wide climate ticket,” Dengler demands, because with the climate ticket Austria is an example for affordable public transport.
Luxembourg and Malta in the first two places
Only Luxembourg and Malta are ahead of Austria in a country comparison, where public transport is even free. Austria can still improve, for example by introducing discounts for low-income households and reducing the ticket sales tax, the NGO said. In Germany it is now ten percent, in neighboring Germany it is only seven percent and in Denmark it does not even occur at all.
To make public transport more attractive for commuters across national borders, climate maps should be mutually recognized in border regions. In Vienna, public transport tickets need to be made even more inclusive. Currently, only people with a visual impairment or deaf receive ticket discounts, these should be significantly expanded and generally apply to all people with disabilities.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
