A recent inquiry by the German Environmental Aid (DUH) reveals a limited implementation of dedicated bus lanes in major German cities. According to reports in the Sunday editions of the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” only five out of 40 large cities have established bus lanes covering more than one percent of their road network, despite the revised Road Traffic Regulations simplifying their implementation.
Berlin leads with 121 kilometers of dedicated bus lanes, representing 2.3 percent of its total road network. Aachen and Mainz follow with 1.4 percent each, closely trailed by Munich and Hamburg. The remaining cities all fall significantly below the one percent mark. Notably, Halle (Saale), Krefeld, Magdeburg and Oberhausen currently have no dedicated bus lanes at all.
Jürgen Resch, Federal Managing Director of DUH, voiced concern stating that public transport is the backbone of the mobility transition, yet buses rarely benefit from dedicated lanes. This results in congestion, delays, poorer air quality and unnecessary CO2 emissions. “Pop-up bus lanes offer immediate impact at a low cost” Resch added, suggesting a readily available solution to improve public transportation efficiency.