Digital Technologies Gain Ground in German Cities’ Traffic and Mobility Sectors
More German cities are increasingly adopting digital technologies in the areas of traffic and mobility, according to the “Smart City Index 2024” published by the IT industry association Bitkom. Since 2020, the proportion of cities with over 100,000 inhabitants that have implemented digital solutions in the areas of traffic and public transportation has more than doubled, the report says.
By 2024, around 75 percent of the cities surveyed have digitalized traffic lights and so-called mobility hubs, which serve as connection points between public transportation, sharing offers and individual traffic, according to the association. Nearly half of the major cities are also using digital road signs and apps that bundle different modes of transportation, such as public transportation, taxis and car and bike sharing, the report adds.
The survey also shows a significant increase in the number of sharing offers. In 2024, e-scooters can be rented in 78 percent of the major cities, up from 58 percent in 2020 and e-bike sharing is available in 82 percent of the cities, with no data available for 2020. E-motorbike sharing can be found in 40 percent of the cities, up from 19 percent in 2020 and car sharing is offered in 90 percent of the cities, a six percent decrease from 2020.
The “Smart City Index” by Bitkom tracks over 13,000 data points on digitalization in German major cities. Munich was the top performer in 2024, while Salzgitter was at the bottom of the list.