Mobility in Erlangen: Between Accessibility, Climate Protection, and Pilot Projects

Mobility in Erlangen: Between Accessibility, Climate Protection, and Pilot Projects

Mobility planning in Erlangen has come increasingly into focus in recent years – not least due to climate goals and the need to make public transport more attractive. April 2026 brought numerous decisions that aim to address both local needs and overarching strategies such as "Vision Zero" or the city's climate protection concept. Below, we highlight the most important developments.

Barrier-Free Public Transport: A Step in the Right Direction

One of the central topics was the barrier-free development of the "Hauptfeuerwache" bus stop. The city pursued a comprehensive redesign of the traffic area and adjacent sidewalks and bike paths. The Weststeig was extended 7 meters to the northwest and slightly shifted northward to create barrier-free access. This measure is part of the Erlangen Local Transport Plan 2025 and is funded 75% by the Bavarian Law for the Promotion of Barrier-Free Mobility (BayGVFG).

In addition, a deviation from the zoning plan under § 125 (3) of the Building Code (BauGB) was required because the traffic area had to be expanded. The cost of the measure amounts to around 500,000 euros, with an additional 15,000 euros for tree planting. This illustrates how sensitively the city handles legal and financial constraints when it comes to inclusivity in public transport.

Pedestrian Traffic and Safety: Focus on Schools and Green Spaces

Another focus was the safety of pedestrians – especially near schools. At the Max-and-Justine-Elsner-Grundschule in Sandbergstraße, an atypical pedestrian crossing was built to increase safety for schoolchildren. In doing so, the green strip was reduced by 2.50 meters, while maintaining a minimum width of 2 meters.

This measure is part of a comprehensive pedestrian traffic concept currently being developed by the city together with external planning offices. The goal is to ensure widespread and safe conditions for pedestrians, particularly in areas with high traffic density. Climate protection and traffic calming are central guiding principles – even though the asphaltation of areas has negative effects on the climate.

Pilot Project "Free Downtown Area": Success or Failure?

The pilot project for free public transport in the city center, which ran from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026, is an example of bold transport policy – and at the same time for the challenges that can arise with such initiatives. Only about 6% of passengers used the free transportation, mostly because they already used the Deutschlandticket. The project was part of the city’s financial consolidation concept and will not be taken over into regular operations.

The City Line 299, which was free within the project, will be charged regularly again starting in 2027. Although the usage was not as high as expected, the project generated regional attention and numerous inquiries about expanding the scope. It remains to be seen whether similar pilot projects will be tested in the future with different scenarios and target groups.

Energy-Sharing and Mobility: Future Technologies in Focus

Another exciting topic was the promotion of energy-sharing in residential areas. The goal is to provide 12 MWp of renewable energy through energy communities by 2030. The city has developed a concept to be implemented under the Energy Economy Act (§ 42c EnWG). In collaboration with energy cooperatives and landlord associations such as GEWOBAU and ESTW, tenant power models and energy-sharing concepts are to be advanced.

The city plans an online event on June 11, 2026, to inform interested parties about the possibilities. This shows that mobility planning in Erlangen is not considered in isolation, but is closely integrated with energy policy.

Conclusion: Mobility as a Key to Sustainable Development

The developments in April 2026 show that Erlangen is working on a sustainable mobility strategy on multiple levels. Barrier-free public transport, improvements in pedestrian traffic, and the integration of renewable energies are central pillars of this strategy. At the same time, the city demonstrates that pilot projects can be valuable even if they are not taken over into regular operations – they provoke reflection and generate impulses for future measures.

In the coming months, it will be interesting to observe how mobility planning continues to develop – particularly in the context of climate goals and the growing importance of digital solutions in the transport sector.