- 49 euro ticket: have to Pensioner for the Germany ticket knowledge
- Ticket form and subscription: Seniors Association complained Disadvantages for older people
- In addition to the digital offer: BAGSO demands Ticket sales at the counter
- Insider tip: With this trick can passengers get a chip card
The Germany ticketalso 49 euro ticket mentioned, is already available for purchase. It is valid from May 1, 2023. Also pensioners can then use the newly introduced ticket to use public regional and local transport throughout Germany. The Federal Association of Senior Citizens’ Organizations (BAGSO) meanwhile sees in particular with regard to older people room for improvement in several respects.
Pensioners and Deutschlandticket: Association demands 49-euro ticket for people without a smartphone
According to its own statements, BAGSO represents the interests of older generations in Germany. Around 120 senior citizens’ organizations have come together in the umbrella organization based in Bonn. With regard to the Germany ticket, the BAGSO sometimes fears Disadvantages for certain groups of people – such as pensioners. “We get a lot of letters from older people and relatives,” reports BAGSO consultant Heike Felscher on Thursday (April 13, 2023) in an interview with inFranken.de. “There are complaintsbecause many older people no smart phone use.” According to the association, citizens without internet access and smartphones should also be able to use the Deutschlandticket. The hook: The 49 euro ticket is predominant only in paperless form acquirable – namely as mobile phone ticket or as a chip card.
There are exceptions according to the federal government just as follows: “Transport companies that are currently not able to provide such a digital ticket can temporarily a paper ticket with QR code spend – but no later than December 31, 2023,” it says on the website of the federal government. BAGSO sees politics as having a duty in this regard. in one Letter to the federal and state transport ministers the seniors’ interest group calls on those responsible to take action. “The problem is that the federal government makes the laws. The states take care of the design,” says Felscher. “And the transport companies do it differently.”
The association practices with seniors in mind Criticism of the ticket offer. “The proportion of people who do not own a smartphone or can only use it to a limited extent increases with age,” says a press release from the umbrella organization. In addition to the digital version, the 49-euro ticket must therefore permanently as a paper ticket or chip card in train stations and at other points of sale for local public transport. Speaking of smart cards: According to the presenter’s knowledge, this will be by no means offered by every transport company.
Deutschlandticket insider tip for pensioners: This is how passengers can still get a chip card
As far as that is concerned, Felscher certainly has a good tip ready: “Because that Deutschlandticket valid nationwide is, the chip card should then also in other transport companies be available,” says the BAGSO employee. “Theoretically, you can buy the ticket anywhere and then have it sent to you.” A spokeswoman for the VAG Verkehrs-Aktiengesellschaft Nuremberg (VAG) confirms this. “Of course it’s possible. The chip card will be sent by post“, explains the spokeswoman for the VAG. So if you can’t buy a chip card in your home town, you should probably get one alternative public transport provider turn around. 49-euro ticket now available from VAG – how can I buy it?
Irrespective of this, BAGSO is committed to ensuring that Germany ticket also available as a monthly ticket is offered – and not, as is currently the case, only in the form of a subscription with one month’s notice. “That doesn’t suit older people and their mobility behavior,” says Felscher. “Firstly, they don’t drive regularly. Secondly, it’s for people with low incomes a higher cost factor.”
One Discount for pensioners is available with the Deutschlandticket nevertheless not. They too have to pay 49 euros per month. A corresponding senior rate however, BAGSO does not consider it necessary. “We have to make a general differentiation when it comes to people with low incomes,” Felscher points out. In the opinion of the federal working group of senior citizens’ organizations it should – regardless of age – give a reduced version for people with low incomes, “since monthly fees of 49 euros are clearly too high for them”, as the association notes in its press release on the 49-euro ticket.
Appropriate to the topic: 49-euro ticket in Bavaria for some passengers significantly cheaper: Is there a risk of different rules every few kilometers?
