The goal is to reduce the impact of motor vehicle traffic on the downtown area through a combination of various measures. The free downtown zone, together with the parking plan and the new parking fee regulations, is intended to enhance and revitalize the downtown area. Parking is to be specifically concentrated in parking garages and parking lots.

The free downtown zone is initially planned as a pilot project for three years, running from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026. A project of this scale, combined with the implementation of the parking plan, is unprecedented. For this reason, it will be accompanied by an ongoing study. The goal is to determine, among other things,

• passenger numbers
• customer satisfaction
• car traffic in the city center

.

The free downtown zone will be discontinued at the end of 2026.

Journeys that begin and end within the designated area are free of charge. Passengers entering or leaving the area from outside must present a valid ticket. This also applies to travel through the free inner city area.

Travel within the free inner city area

No ticket is required for the journey.

Journey from outside the inner city area into or out of the area

A valid ticket is required for the journey. Outside the free inner city area, you must have a valid ticket.

Traveling through the free inner city area

A valid ticket is required for the journey.

The free area includes the city center

• from Werner-von-Siemens-Straße in the south to the Haagstraße and Schwabachanlage bus stops in the north and
• from the bus station in the west to the Zollhaus stop in the east.

The exact perimeter is marked on the map above.

All bus lines within the area can be used free of charge, regardless of whether you

• on the city buses of Erlanger Stadtverkehr GmbH (ESTW)
• the intercity lines of the districts or
• the bus lines of the VAG

bus lines. You can recognize the public buses by the VGN logo on the vehicles.

Free bus travel in the free inner city area is valid around the clock, as long as buses are running. So there are no restrictions. This offer is a trial run. The offer is valid from January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2026.

The free inner city area can be used as often as you like. Bicycles and dogs can also be taken along free of charge.

No, you do not need a ticket. However, as soon as you leave the city center area, you will need a valid ticket. As before, you can buy this before you start your journey

• at the ticket machine
• in the VGN app or
• from the bus drivers.

Fare zone C applies to the city of Erlangen.

The names of the stops are marked in orange on the stop flags. There is also an overview of the free inner city area on the timetable boards.

No. It only applies to buses. E-scooters, cab rides or other mobility services are not included.

Journeys within the area are recognized by the egon app and do not incur any costs. If you travel into or out of the area from outside, the regular egon fare applies for the entire journey. In these cases, the distance traveled in the free inner city area is included in full and not deducted from the total distance.

The city of Erlangen compensates for the revenue that is normally collected in this area through tickets or season tickets. This revenue shortfall is calculated by the VGN. The compensation amounts to approx. 305,000 euros per year - plus future price developments in the VGN tariff.

No. The ticket prices will therefore not be adjusted. The scope of services of price level C and all other existing price levels will remain unchanged. A ticket is still required for journeys in or beyond the free inner city area.

This is a pilot project that will be evaluated after three years. There are no plans to expand the three-year pilot project.

Despite rising ridership on city buses and positive feedback on the CityLinie, only a few passengers used the buses because of the free downtown zone. Read more here