The 9-euro ticket is the number one topic of conversation, even ahead of the tax cuts on fuel, the child bonus and other parts of the federal government’s relief package. It turns out that the issue of mobility literally moves people.

This is not surprising either: more than half of Germans commute between 15 and 60 minutes to and from work every day. The costs for this have risen continuously in recent years, whether by car or in local public transport.

Thus, the inexpensive and, above all, uncomplicated monthly pass becomes a beacon of hope – after all, transport companies are not usually known for their transparent pricing policy.

Nevertheless, the 9-euro ticket completely ignores the reality of life for many people in Germany. This is shown by a survey by Infratest Dimap for ARD Deutschland-Trend. Citizens were asked who plans to claim the ticket:

While in the metropolitan areas there is a tram, bus or train on every corner every few minutes, people in the country often have to put up with long distances and waiting times.

If suddenly from a 20-minute drive to work, training, school or university

then it simply puts users off. Older people are often less able to walk. Employees who start at 6 a.m. often have no suitable ride offer at all. Parents cannot pick up their children an hour later from daycare or school because of constantly late trains.

So what does it take? Reliable, well-timed local transport. Of course, the transport companies cannot suddenly catch up in three months with everything that Deutsche Bahn has overslept and delayed in the last few decades.

But maybe the 9-euro ticket is the first big step in the right direction.

Now you could say: people who live in the country and are dependent on the car are taken into account with the tax reduction on fuel.

That’s true, but it’s definitely not a low price guarantee on Super and Diesel. Perhaps the oil companies sense even larger margins, so that not all of the planned savings of 30 cents per liter of super and 14 cents per liter of diesel end up reaching the consumer. Prices are currently on the rise again.

In addition, we should see the 9-euro ticket as an opportunity to reduce individual car traffic throughout Germany, not just in and around the metropolises.

Despite all the challenges and points of criticism, I hope that the 9-euro ticket will be a complete success and that it may even be extended after the planned period from September. Why?

Maybe this summer fairy tale will come true.