How can we commute more sustainably?

Brain City Berlin

Researchers at the Berlin branch of the Institute of Transport Research of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have been investigating how commuting will change in the future. With housing and work in mind, a key question is what a sustainable, environmentally friendly city with commuters could look like by 2050. The answers are highly relevant for Brain City Berlin, too.

In the research project MOBITAT 2050, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is examining what commuting could look like as part of a vision for 2050. Millions of people in Germany already travel to work and back home every day. In larger cities, public transport is of a high standard, and new options such as e-bikes and on-demand services are available. Even so, most people in employment still rely on the car to get to work. According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 68 per cent chose the car in 2020.

New trends are changing how we commute

Digitalisation, automation and the continuing influx of young people into cities such as Berlin are changing how people get around. Workplaces and working practices are becoming more flexible, as more and more people work from home at least part of the time. In the MOBITAT 2050 project, DLR researchers worked with the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg (ifeu), the ConPolicy Institute, the Institute of Urban and Transport Planning at RWTH Aachen University and Mobility Management Frankfurt Rhine-Main to develop tools designed to support municipalities and regions in sustainable transport planning.

Working from home is not enough

The researchers surveyed commuters about their travel habits. The result: while the journey to work is an important factor in deciding where to live, it is not the decisive one. When choosing a mode of transport, however, short travel times, flexibility and low costs are what count most.

Remote working barely reduces the share of car journeys. “Working from home does not automatically reduce traffic volumes,” explains Dr Viktoriya Kolarova from the DLR Institute of Transport Research. “People do commute less often when they work from home more, but at the same time they are willing to accept longer journeys.” For a genuine transport transition, working from home must therefore be combined with attractive incentives to use sustainable modes of transport.

Urban development and mobility are inseparable

The model results reveal a complex interplay between settlement development, working from home and traffic. Shifting construction to the outskirts tends to lead to longer commutes and makes the car the first choice, even if people drive less overall because they work from home more. At the same time, housing prices in the surrounding area would rise without easing pressure in the urban centres.

Conversely, the model shows that more housing in the city, combined with push measures such as a congestion charge or 30 km/h zones, could significantly reduce private car traffic. However, this approach carries the risk of rising prices and the displacement of low-income groups, a challenge that is highly relevant for growing cities such as Brain City Berlin.

Tailored solutions for a sustainable mobility future

Sustainable mobility planning therefore goes far beyond purely transport-related measures. The research team developed and assessed packages of measures based on four guiding principles of sustainability: environment and resources, a fair society, quality of life and a sustainable economy. These packages can be adapted to regional objectives. The model-based approach of MOBITAT 2050 makes it possible to test tailored solutions for making commuting more sustainable in a specific region. This makes it a valuable tool for cities and municipalities working towards climate-friendly mobility. For Brain City Berlin, which positions itself as a centre for science and innovation, this research provides important impetus. It shows how urban development, housing policy and transport planning must be considered together to keep Berlin liveable, fair and mobile in the future.

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