Public-Transport on timeING

Cost Comparison: Public Transport, Ecomobility, and Car Use in Germany

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:00:23 +0600

Text is Work-In-Progress

Introduction

Public debate about mobility often focuses on ticket prices, fuel costs, or whether “owning a car pays off.” This perspective is too narrow. Mobility is not just an individual consumption choice but also a question of infrastructure, spatial structure, social participation, and societal financing. Anyone seriously examining the cost comparison between cars and public transport must consider both direct household expenditures and broader macroeconomic consequences.¹ ²

In Germany, mobility is spatially very unevenly organized. In densely urban areas, many trips can be completed using the Umweltverbund (ecomobility; the sustainable bundle of public transport, cycling, and walking). In rural areas, however, cars are often not merely a convenience option but a prerequisite for everyday mobility.³ ⁴ This creates a fundamental difference: while cities primarily ask how mobility can be organized affordably and with low emissions, rural areas frequently grapple with ensuring mobility reliability in the first place.⁴ ⁵

Comparison of Timetable Versions Using Travel Time Isochrones

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 06:00:23 +0600

Isochrones derived from real timetable data enable a direct comparison between different timetable versions. This method plays a key role in identifying deficits within transport networks and irregularities in service frequency. Beyond timetable optimization, visualizing isochrones can also serve as an effective communication tool for public information. By presenting timetable improvements in a simple and easily understandable format, these visualizations foster greater public acceptance of timetable changes.

Case Study: Wuppertal

Following the reconstruction of the Wuppertal main station and its surrounding area, the new bus terminal—located directly adjacent to the station and accessible from platform one—is expected to be completed within this year. According to timetable data recorded in the EFA system, the terminal is scheduled to open to bus traffic on Sunday, October 28, 2018.

Interactive Accessibility Analysis in Public Transport Using GTFS Data

Sun, 22 Apr 2018 06:00:23 +0600

Data-Driven Accessibility in Public Transport Planning

As an initial example of data-driven accessibility analysis in public transport planning, this study presents an evaluation based on timetable data. The analysis relies on data provided in the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) format, supplied by the Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg under a Creative Commons V3 license.

Technical Background

Using a spatial grid with a resolution of 100 × 100 meters, travel time isochrones are computed and visualized under defined parameters, such as departure or arrival time, and maximum walking distance. The computation of a single isochrone takes approximately one second, enabling efficient and systematic comparisons between existing (as-is) and planned (target) service scenarios. This analytic approach is particularly effective for identifying accessibility deficits in current timetables and supports evidence-based strategies for developing or updating local public transport plans.