Five “model cities” want to improve air quality with better and cheaper public transport

In the fight against pollution from diesel cars and with EU fines looming, five German model cities want to make their public transport systems better and cheaper. At a press conference with transport minister Andreas Scheuer (CSU) and environment minister Svenja Schulze (SPD), the cities’ mayors also presented plans to cooperate with the largest local employers to motivate employees to commute using means of transport that are more environmentally-friendly than private cars. Additionally, the cities announced plans to build new bicycle lanes, shift local freight transport to electric bikes and cars, and improve the flow of traffic.
The five model cities are part of the government’s “Ad-hoc programme for clean air” that is meant to avoid diesel driving bans. They were chosen because they have different levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution and therefore could serve as showcases for improving air quality in some 70 German cities that grapple with excessive pollution levels, according to the government. The federal government has set aside 130 million euros to support initiatives that can be implemented in the short term “and have a measurable positive effect on air quality”.

Read the transport ministry’s press release here.

Read the article One year after German “diesel summit,” air quality challenge remains for background.