With rising fuel costs, Germany cuts public transport fares
Millions in Germany can now get unprecedented discounts on public transport aimed at encouraging more people to make a permanent change in their travel habits amid rising fuel costs.
From today, anyone can buy a monthly ticket of 9 euros (9.66 dollars), allowing unlimited use of local and regional bus and train services in Germany.
The ticket will also be available for the months of July and August, although trains in particular are expected to be very crowded as a result.
Meanwhile, German taxes on fuel are being cut to the lowest level allowed by EU law by the end of August in a bid to bring prices down.
The price of gasoline is expected to fall by about 35 cents per liter, while the cost of diesel is likely to fall by about 17 cents.
The move, which will cost the federal government billions of dollars in lost tax revenue, is in response to higher energy prices and also aims to support commuters.
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