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Driving license handover in Lübeck: Popular campaign ends despite high demand!
The campaign in Lübeck, which began in 2022, rewards those who give up a driving license with an annual public transport ticket, but will soon end despite high demand.
Driving license handover in Lübeck: Popular campaign ends despite high demand!
An unusual campaign is causing a stir in Lübeck: Since 2022, people who voluntarily give up their driving license have been able to use public transport free of charge for a year. This initiative aims to increase the incentive to use buses and trains and to relieve congestion on the roads. But despite its great popularity, the campaign was discontinued at the end of the year due to a strained budget situation. LN Online reports that the city of Lübeck expects savings of 291,000 euros.
The city authorities are currently receiving between 20 and 40 applications for driving license waivers every month. In 2023, a total of 818 Lübeck residents handed in their driving licenses. What is particularly striking is the high participation of women: 675 of them took part, while only 161 men took the initiative. The most common age group that decided to take this step is those aged 80 to 84, followed by those aged 75 to 79. An interesting detail: Only seven participants were under 60 years old.
The regional differences
A look at the participation rate shows interesting regional differences. The highest participation per 1000 residents over 60 was recorded in the old town, while more rural areas such as St. Lorenz Nord have low participation. To analyze this data, participants had to provide their addresses, which also helps the city better understand demand in different zip code areas.
- PLZ 23552 (Altstadt): 17,23 Teilnehmende pro 1000
- PLZ 23556 (Buntekuh, St. Lorenz Nord): 15,67 Teilnehmende pro 1000
- PLZ 23562 (St. Jürgen): 13,93 Teilnehmende pro 1000
- PLZ 23560 (ländliche Gebiete): 8,70 Teilnehmende pro 1000
- PLZ 23554 (St. Lorenz Nord): 6,13 Teilnehmende pro 1000
Another notable detail is that 146 of the participants already had a public transport ticket subscription before the campaign, while 302 of 672 new customers kept their annual ticket after the campaign ended. The city administration plans to evaluate the data from 2024 and 2025 later. If the budget situation stabilizes, the campaign could be launched again.
Similar initiatives in Germany
There are similar programs throughout Germany to encourage people to renounce driving licenses, which primarily appeal to seniors. These offers vary: in Bonn, for example, people over 60 receive a free Germany ticket for six months, while in Dortmund, giving up the driver's license gives them a free ticket for two months, with no age restrictions. Such initiatives show that giving up the car is a challenge for many seniors, as owning a car is often the only option for mobility. Mercury highlights that older people are often unsafe when driving, which makes participation in these programs even more attractive.
Whether in Lübeck or elsewhere, the trend shows that many older people are open to the possibility of foregoing their car mobility as long as they are offered attractive alternatives. While the campaign in Lübeck ends for the time being, it remains to be hoped that the city administration will keep an eye on the possibility of reintroducing it. Because a good knack for sustainable mobility could not only benefit seniors, but the entire city.