The 49-euro ticket, which is valid throughout Germany, will be available from May. However, the VBB environmental card is still available Photo: BVG/Christian Lohse
By Jan Schilde
It would have been the chance to finally clear the boat in the VBB tariff jungle. 49-euro ticket throughout Germany and ready, with all the consequences, like in other federal states. A comment from BZ editor-in-chief Jan Schilde.
And what does the BVG do? Eliminates helpful amenities for the value ticket. It is non-transferrable, so it cannot be used by different people in turn.
You are also no longer allowed to take other people with you after 8 p.m. and on weekends and public holidays. But the environmental card remains, with which almost 18 euros more are required, but which is not valid throughout Germany.
Of course, a very important problem with the 49 euro ticket has been solved. Commuters from Brandenburg can get to the city much cheaper. But the price incentive for Berliners to use public transport more often has fizzled out. The 29-euro ticket, which corresponds to an expensive environmental card, is still valid until April.
It is quite possible that the future Senate will extend the offer. The state transport companies want to pay dearly for this. In the end, however, it also depends on the expansion of local public transport to make the switch really attractive.