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Berlin (dpa) - Baden-Württemberg's transport minister Winfried Hermann (Grünen) has described the planned reform of the transport service market as "extremely relevant" for changes in mobility and local public transport.
"It is a necessary and important modernization of passenger transport law," he told the German press agency.
The Federal Council will vote on the reform this Friday, approval is expected.
"The reform can above all improve mobility in rural areas," said Hermann.
“It doesn't make sense if a bus drives around late in the evening without passengers.
For the first time, offers of taxis can now be financed from public funds.
Many taxis have withdrawn from rural areas because it is no longer economical. "
The reform provides for a new legal framework for digital mobility offers, which are mostly booked via apps, but also changes for traditional forms of transport such as taxis and local public transport.
This is intended to address changes in the mobility market.
Local municipalities are to be given a range of control options.
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Hermann said that under pressure, especially from the Greens, important changes had been made in the legislative process.
He was one of the negotiators.
«Above all, we have strengthened the role of the municipalities.
Municipalities can now take better action against grievances and unfair competition. "
Above all, it is about the possibility of regulating the rental car sector and about social standards for drivers.
«No competition may be carried out on the drivers' backs or at the expense of local public transport.
It's a kind of anti-dumping clause.
New mobility offers should be made possible, but we need fair competitive conditions. "
For vehicles from driving service providers such as Uber, there is still a "return obligation".
After a customer trip, you first have to go back to the company headquarters and - unlike taxis - you are not allowed to wait on the street or be waved at.
"We do not want to prevent Uber & Co, but you have to set limits to the new offers," said Hermann.
"We don't want the taxi market to be ruined and also damage public transport."
That is why the obligation to return for rental cars without orders remains the same.
"Even after the reform, German passenger transport law is more restrictive than in other countries - in Germany, however, unlike in other countries, public transport makes a major contribution to climate-friendly mobility."
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Federal Council item 6
Overview of the Ministry of Transport on new regulations