You don't have to be a friend of the tram as a modern, environmentally friendly means of transport.

Subways and suburban trains are probably the better solution because they can transport more people faster and are therefore more efficient.

But one thing is certain: a bus can be a wonderful addition, but it is not a suitable means of transport in a region that is considered a commuter stronghold to transport the large number of people necessary to relieve the urgently needed relief on the roads to care.

A bus is not a central transport connection.

With Bad Vilbels saying no to a tram from Frankfurt to the center of the town, the spa town is taking the opportunity to offer its citizens an attractive range of local public transport and the opportunity to connect better and more environmentally friendly with the big city as an important surrounding area.

In terms of regional policy, the decision is regrettable, and in times when it is all about networking, it seems outdated.

Certainly: Bad Vilbel has a modern connection with the S-Bahn.

The four-track expansion of the route to Friedberg will improve the situation for the people of Bad Vilbel enormously.

But the direct connection to Frankfurt will continue to be covered by many by car.

After all, the potential study commissioned by both cities two years ago showed that a tram would attract 50 percent more passengers.

Bad Vilbel's Mayor Sebastian Wysocki (CDU) no longer believes in these numbers in the post-Corona era, since home office has become established.

And what happens, he said, if commuters from neighboring communities, for example from the Main-Kinzig district, come up with the idea of ​​parking in the Wetterau spa town in order to take the tram to Frankfurt from there?

Then Bad Vilbel would have to provide parking spaces.

With its negative attitude towards trams, Bad Vilbel finds itself in the best of company.

After all, the people of Wiesbaden decided against trams in a referendum at the end of 2020, as they require road space and unattractive overhead lines.

Bad Vilbel also refers to the cityscape, "which is changing massively for the worse".

What is not mentioned is that both cities are banking on one thing: the car as a means of transport and being self-sufficient.

The announcement by the Bad Vilbel coalition that "we will make our contribution to the traffic turnaround and climate-friendly mobility" should soon be followed by action.