Commuters in transition: Cars remain popular, rail usage is increasing significantly!

Commuters in transition: Cars remain popular, rail usage is increasing significantly!

The results of the 2022 microcensus show remarkable trends in the commuting behavior of Germans. According to a report by the South German newspaper 65 percent of commuters in Germany use cars, which represents a decrease of three percentage points compared to 2018. Despite this decline, the car remains the dominant means of transport in commuter traffic.

There has also been a notable increase in the use of public transport: 16 percent of respondents said they used it to get to work, an increase of two percentage points since the last survey. This may be due to the introduction of the Deutschlandticket, which is covered or subsidized by many employers.

Growing foot traffic and cycling

Another interesting aspect is the increase in pedestrians: 6 percent of commuters walk to work, an increase of one percentage point since 2020. The proportion of cyclists, however, remains stable at 10 percent. These figures underline a trend towards more environmentally friendly means of transport, while the car continues to dominate as the main mode of transport.

The commute time shows that 70 percent of those surveyed need less than 30 minutes to get to work. A closer look: 19 percent of commuters travel less than 10 minutes, while 50 percent commute between 10 and 30 minutes. Only 6 percent of commuters spend an hour or more every day.

Commuter atlas and overall employment situation

In addition, it offers Commuter Atlas comprehensive data on the movements of commuters between home and work. Here, users can choose between employees subject to social security contributions and general commuters. The atlas provides further insights into socio-demographic characteristics, commuting rates and balances.

A particularly noteworthy point from the commuter atlas is that of around 34.585 million people in Germany who are subject to social security contributions, around 13.9 million, or 40 percent, commute to another district. In addition, 239,000 people commute to Germany from abroad for employment subject to social security contributions.

The figures highlight the complexity of commuter movements in Germany, which are influenced by a variety of factors, including regional employment opportunities and connectivity to transport networks. This comprehensive data compartment enables a differentiated view of transport alternatives and the associated social dynamics in the country.