Evaluation of the free inner city area

Since January 2024, all buses in the city center can be used free of charge. An initial evaluation has now been presented.

- However, an interim evaluation carried out by the Office for Urban Planning and Mobility shows that the majority of passengers continue to use season tickets (81%).
- 64 percent of those surveyed have the Deutschlandticket.
- Only six percent stated that they only travel within the free inner-city area.
- Just under half of these (2.9 percent) stated that they only used the bus because it was free.

The results of the evaluation were presented to the city council's environment, transport and planning committee on May 13. A second round of surveys is planned for June and July 2025. The results should be available in the fall and form the basis for the further evaluation of the project (photo: bus stop in Henkestraße - smü press office).

Find out more about the evaluation here

Numerous measures

The free city center area extends

• from the bus station in the west to Zollhausplatz in the east and
• from Werner-von-Siemens-Straße in the south to Schwabachanlage in the north.

It includes all city and regional bus routes. The free local transport service is part of a package of measures to improve the quality of life and attractiveness of the city center. These include the new, very well-received ring bus route (CityLinie) and a revised parking fee regulation. They are intended to reduce traffic looking for a parking space and direct parking to suitable areas such as the large parking lot or the central parking garages. From July, new parking regulations will also be tested in the Bohlenplatz parking management pilot project.

Further survey planned

The project was designed from the outset as a temporary pilot project. The accompanying evaluation is intended to provide a well-founded assessment of the impact and benefits. The first survey phase was implemented in December 2024. Around 2,400 people were surveyed over two days. Of these

• around 1,500 passengers at five stops in the area of validity and
• around 150 passengers on the CityLinie with a short questionnaire.

In addition, around 700 passers-by were interviewed in detail at two city center locations. Among other things, they were asked about

• the specific usage behavior
• personal assessments of the measure and
• accompanying indicators such as the form of travel or the frequency of visits to the city center.

Tilmann Lohse, Head of the Office for Urban Planning and Mobility, sums up: "The Deutschlandticket is an extremely attractive offer. The free city center area has therefore had less effect than expected. The second survey will provide us with the necessary pointers as to which adjustments we can still make and in what form a continuation of the project makes sense."