High fuel costs in Germany have the apparent effect of significantly increasing ridership on buses and trains. A spokesperson for the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) noted to the “Rheinische Post” (Friday edition) that demand for public transport tickets is assumed to have risen due to the increased price of gasoline for private cars. However, the spokesperson added that transport companies are unable to respond to this increased demand by adequately expanding their services because of constrained budgets. Consequently, the spokesperson emphasized the urgent need for the federal government to decisively implement the public transport modernization pact agreed upon in the coalition agreement. This includes, for example, amending the Municipal Transport Financing Act so that the transit companies can secure necessary planning stability.