Identification of socio-demographic and attitudinal drivers of the usage of the Deutschlandticket

The introduction of the Deutschlandticket in May 2023 marked a significant development in Germany’s public transport system, offering unrestricted regional public transport usage nationwide for €49. However, recent discussions about its pricing initiated political and social debates. The ticket aims to simplify access to public transport and promote modal shift, particularly among underrepresented groups by removing ticketing and fare barriers as well as making it more afordable. Understanding the differences between users and non-users is crucial, as socio-demographic and psychological factors influence mode choice and sustainability behavior. Based on a population-representative sample consisting of n = 3483 individuals, determinants of the probability of using the Deutschlandticket were identified. It was found that, in line with previous research, both socio-demographic and attitudinal factors determine the probability to use the Deutschlandticket. Those who use the Deutschlandticket are characterized by a lower age, higher levels of formal education and lower car dependency, while simultaneously tending to live in urban areas. However, differences are also observed in personality dimensions: Users of the Deutschlandticket tend to have lower needs for security as well as high environmental concerns and are characterized by their strong social identity as public transport users. By also showing that users of the Deutschlandticket tend to exhibit higher levels of car pride despite having a higher level of environmental concern, the results point to the Deutschlandticket as a “lifestyle product” for privileged, urban and high-income population groups, which has important implications for the significance of the Deutschlandticket as a facilitator of mobility for all population groups. Overall, this study paves the way for further research into sustainable mode choices with a specific focus on the Deutschlandticket.