Maintain Mobility Essential in NRW (North Rhine-Westphalia)
In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), a shift towards reliable, safe, and accessible mobility options for working families is underway. The focus is on public transport, buses, trains, car-sharing, footpaths, sidewalks, cycle paths, and local transport.
NRW's transport minister supports the Deutschlandticket initiative, offering affordable public transport access across buses, trains, and local transit. Despite recent price hikes in 2025 leading to a decline in user numbers, the state advocates for stable, long-term funding and fare pricing indexed to inflation to sustain and enhance public transport accessibility.
The region is also advancing climate-neutral mobility through a framework agreement between Air Liquide and H2 MOBILITY to supply renewable hydrogen for industrial and transportation uses. This supports the development of hydrogen-powered buses and vehicles, enhancing sustainable local transport options with a focus on cleaner emissions.
The ERS.T-NRW research project is pioneering inductive wireless charging for electric vehicles, including public transport and shared electric cars. With a test track for wireless charging in Aldenhoven, NRW is investing in technologies that allow convenient and continuous charging of EVs on the move, facilitating easier use of electric cars and buses.
NRW is also expanding its public EV charging network, with plans to nearly double charging infrastructure by 2030. This expansion supports electric car-sharing schemes and private EV use, making sustainable mobility more accessible and practical for working families.
While explicit policies on footpaths, sidewalks, and cycle paths were not detailed, NRW’s overall emphasis on climate-neutral and accessible mobility, plus its investment in new technologies and maintenance of affordable public transport fares, reflect a comprehensive approach to supporting diverse mobility needs.
Sonja Bongers, the Chair of the SPD City Council Fraction and a Member of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Parliament, emphasises the importance of infrastructure that intelligently connects different mobility forms, such as Bike & Ride, car-sharing, park & ride facilities, and well-timed express buses. Safe and comfortable foot and cycle paths, including for short distances and school routes, are also deemed essential.
Bongers states that each individual should be able to decide their mode of travel from A to B, which can vary based on personal preferences, financial possibilities, reasons, availability, and distances. She also highlights that mobility must adapt to the daily lives of people, not the other way around.
Pedestrian traffic remains the foundation and starting point of every mobility, and mobility is a fundamental right and a prerequisite for social participation, especially for working families. Reliable, safe, and everyday offers are crucial for a good mix of mobility choices, both in urban and rural areas. Families, particularly those with children, care-dependent relatives, or different work routes, require flexible offers.
In conclusion, NRW's key initiatives include maintaining and stabilizing affordable public transport fares (Deutschlandticket), promoting climate-neutral hydrogen mobility, developing inductive wireless charging for electric vehicles, expanding public EV charging infrastructure, and supporting technological innovation for electric and public transport vehicles. These efforts collectively aim to provide safe, reliable, and accessible mobility solutions suited to working families' needs throughout NRW’s urban and industrial regions.
- The shift towards safe and reliable mobility options in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) extends beyond public transit, as the region is also advancing finance for climate-neutral mobility through the supply of renewable hydrogen for industry and transportation.
- In the realms of home and garden, NRW is further investing in technologies like inductive wireless charging for electric vehicles, aiming to make electric transportation more accessible and practical for working families.
- As mobility is a fundamental right, Sonja Bongers, the Chair of the SPD City Council Fraction, emphasizes the importance of connecting different mobility forms like bicycle and car-sharing, and clearing safe, comfortable footpaths and cycle paths for diverse lifestyle needs, particularly for families in urban and industrial regions.