A look at the choice of transport modes reinforces this picture: According to “Mobility in Germany” (MiD 2023), the modal split in the Rhine-Main region is 58% car, 13% public transport, and 23% bicycle/e-bike. Despite a strong rail and S-Bahn network, the car remains the dominant mode of transport in the surrounding areas. The RMV also reports that regional trains account for 36% of passenger-kilometres traveled, S-Bahn trains for 22%, and buses for 32%.

Yet in the Rhine-Main region, the potential for commuters to cover parts of their routes by bicycle has been growing for years. The average commuting distances from the Taunus or from Offenbach/Darmstadt make e-bikes and speed pedelecs increasingly attractive. And within Frankfurt itself, the share of bicycle traffic has remained stably in the double digits for years.

What stands out to me, however, is that these developments remain barely visible in Frankfurt, even with the Mobility Master Plan 2035 in place. The plan was adopted by the city council last May, and several elements are still in progress, including a pedestrian mobility strategy, which will enter public consultation this summer, and the logistics strategy, which is being developed in close cooperation with the business community. For the still-dominant car traffic in the city, the mobility department is focusing on measures such as expanding the e-charging infrastructure on municipal land, conducting a feasibility study for park-and-ride facilities, and extending the car-sharing network to the city boundaries. The question is whether these initiatives can deliver a genuine shift in mobility, or whether Frankfurt risks reverting to the incremental, fragmented approach seen in earlier strategic plans.

The good news: my daily morning run along the Main River in cool temperatures was in no way hindered by the mobility situation. On the contrary, at 7 a.m., Frankfurt reveals one of its most beautiful sides right here.

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