How the financial barrier to public transport use disappeared. A qualitative study about the 9-Euro-Ticket with low-income parents in the Hanover region (Germany)

Keywords: transport-related social exclusion, transport affordability, 9-Euro-Ticket, low-income families
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

A lack of mobility can result in people experiencing disadvantages in their social participation, such as reduced access to social activities, goods and services (Kenyon et al. 2002) and in a higher risk of transport-related social exclusion (Lucas, 2012, 2019; Schwanen et al. 2015; Social Exclusion Unit, 2003). Even with a transport infrastructure that enables people to reach places of daily life, the journey there must also be affordable. In Germany, households with children, especially single parents, have a higher risk of being affected by or threatened with financial poverty and thus being restricted in their mobility and participation (German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, 2017, 2021).

From June to August 2022, the financial barrier to public transport use almost completely disappeared due to the 9-Euro-Ticket (Federal Government Online 2022). It enabled anyone (with access to public transport infrastructure) across Germany to use local and regional public transport for 9 euros per person per month. This measure completely changed the conditions of public transport use. Therefore, I conducted qualitative interviews with low-income parents to investigate the impact of this ticket on their travel practices and social participation.

The results show that the 9-Euro-Ticket not only removed the financial constraint to public transport use and reduced financial stress, but, in particular, increased social participation. At the AAG 2023, I would like to present and discuss these results addressing the session’s topics "mobility related equity and justice issues with a focus on vulnerable populations" and “affordability and transport justice”.