Sustainable mobility

An important focus is the further expansion of local public transport. In recent years some measures have already been taken to pave the way for this.

The tariff system of the transport association VVS was reviewed as of 1 April 2019 making it simpler, clearer and cheaper for many passengers. The new tariff zone system now has only five ring zones for the entire Stuttgart region as opposed to the 52 tariff zones before. One of these zones is the entire State Capital. Many passengers benefit from this, since they travel in fewer zones and therefore pay less than before. This is a strong incentive for commuters and occasional customers to leave their car at home and make an active contribution to reducing environmental pollution.

Other measures include new and extended tram lines, more vehicles on tracks and more bus lines. Since January 2018 Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG (SSB) has been using only buses which comply with emission standard Euro VI in the Stuttgart valley basin. Many buses of the SSB fleet are already equipped with innovative drive systems, such as diesel hybrid or fuel cell hybrid. Moreover, since January 2020 the buses of SSB have been running on a very environmentally friendly synthetic fuel.

The job ticket and corporate subscription initiated by the State Capital Stuttgart in 2013 is a big hit: in the meantime some 1,000 companies – smaller companies also included – are granting their employees an allowance for local public transport costs. At the State Capital some 60 percent of the employees of the city use their job ticket to travel to work in an environmentally friendly way. (Status: 12/2019)

In addition, an annual ticket for 365 euros will be implemented in summer 2020 for schoolchildren, trainees and master craftsmen students.

Extending possibilities for walking and cycling plays an important role in the urban mobility concept. 

In Stuttgart already more than one quarter of everyday movements are done on foot. To increase this proportion even more the city has launched its own investment programme for pedestrian traffic. A network of main footpaths and promenade routes is to be created in all five Stuttgart city centre districts by 2022. The concept will further promote pedestrian traffic in Stuttgart and strengthen it as an important mode of transport.

On a long-term basis the city wants to increase the proportion of bicycle traffic in the mobility volume to 25 percent. Therefore, in 2019, the municipal council made a basic resolution that Stuttgart should become a “real bicycle city”. For this the bicycle budget has been considerably increased as of 2020, for instance to expand main cycling routes, set up cycle lanes and install bicycle garages in residential areas. This also includes the financial support of electric cargo bikes for families and the expansion of the intercommunal bike and pedelec rental system RegioRadStuttgart. RegioRadStuttgart supplements the public transport system and is therefore an important component in a consistent and sustainable travel chain.

Since 2020 the State Capital Stuttgart has been investing 20 euros per capita and year in the expansion of bicycle traffic.

The State Capital is a nationwide pioneer in electric mobility. Stuttgart has more than 300 public charging points, so one of the densest charging station networks in Germany. The publicly accessible charging points are to be expanded to 1,000 charging points by the end of 2021. In addition, many “private” charging points outside the public road network are accessible to everyone. They are located in public car parks or parking lots, at retailers, traders or car dealers. In addition, the city administration together with associations, guilds and dealers in Stuttgart is raising awareness for e-mobility, as well as mapping out e-mobility concepts in residential districts. For further information go to  www.emobil-region-stuttgart.de (opens in a new tab) 

Since 2015 the municipal fleet has been consistently converted to low-emission or zero-emission vehicles, such as hybrid vehicles, fully-electric passenger cars, e-scooters and pedelecs. The city administration and its technical departments also use electric cargo bikes and electric wheel loaders, as well as electric watering vehicles, in addition to several pilot projects with all-electric light trucks, all-electric sweepers and hydrogen-powered cargo bikes . 

Since 2016 Stadtwerke Stuttgart have been active in the sharing market with the e-scooter mobility offer “Stella”. With the stella-sharing app, users can rent low-threshold e-scooters and get around Stuttgart in an environmentally friendly way, even à deux.

To avoid congestion or resolve traffic jams more quickly, the road traffic within Stuttgart is monitored, controlled and directed by the Integrated Traffic Control Centre (Integrierte Verkehrsleitzentrale (IVLZ)). If necessary, IVLZ intervenes in the traffic via traffic light settings, control systems and alternative route controls and, at the same time, provides information via numerous variable signs on the main roads, as well as traffic reports on traffic obstructions, accidents, road works and high traffic volumes.

In the medium and long term further measures for air pollution control are planned by optimising traffic control. In this regard the city will focus on the high potential of digitalisation. Traffic control strategies, for instance, will be transmitted to navigation services with the aim of a city-friendly routing system.

Among the most important questions for all cities are how do goods, merchandise and products get to the customer and how can unnecessary delivery traffic be avoided and necessary deliveries optimised? 

The City of Stuttgart has found numerous answers to these questions. For instance, the city supports the project LogSpaze, where goods are pooled at central points in the city (micro-hubs) and delivered to shops and major clients by cargo bikes. By using electric vehicles, from pedelecs to e-sprinters, delivery in the city centre will be even more environmentally friendly.

Another project is that logistics companies use temporary free parking space in car parks and then use electric cargo bikes to distribute the goods over the last mile. To ensure that all projects are well networked the city is in close cooperation with various partners from business, science and associations. 

Among other things, the mobility consulting agency of the State Capital Stuttgart offers a competent service that develops individually adapted routes and ways for all interested parties. The mobility consulting agency provides information free of charge on bike and car sharing, carpools, sharing a private car, courses on fuel-saving driving and Park & Ride.

Therefore, if you want to reach your destination on time and without stress it is a good idea to get advance information on possible traffic jams, obstructions caused by road works, parking facilities and Park & Ride offers.

It is often worthwhile leaving your own car at home since bike and car sharing, car rental agencies, car-sharing agencies, taxi and commuter networks do in many cases offer a sensible alternative.