Most Germans who commute to work continue to rely heavily on private cars, a trend that has seen little change since 2020.
Data from the Federal Statistical Office, reported by Tagesschau, reveal that 65% of respondents in 2024 still use private cars to get to work, compared to 68% four years earlier.
Public transport usage has risen slightly to 16%, up two percentage points from five years ago. This growth is partly linked to the introduction of a special transit pass in 2023, “the cost of which many employers partially or fully compensated.” Cycling to work remains steady at 10%, while walking accounts for 7%, marking a one percent increase.
Regarding commute times, 70% of respondents spend less than half an hour traveling to work, regardless of their transportation mode. About 25% commute between 30 minutes and under an hour, while only 6% have commutes exceeding one hour.
Distance-wise, only 6% live less than 5 km from their workplace, 22% are between 5 and 10 km away, and nearly 30% live 10 to 25 km away. Fifteen percent commute up to 50 km, with 5% traveling even farther.
For comparison, Paris has implemented various incentives to encourage a shift towards public transport and cycling, aiming to reduce traffic-related noise and pollution.
