Mobility in Mönchengladbach: Focus on Local Transport, Accessibility, and Carsharing in February 2026

Mobility in Mönchengladbach: Focus Areas in February 2026

In February 2026, the city of Mönchengladbach set further milestones in the development of its mobility strategy. The focus was on improving local mobility, ensuring barrier-free accessibility, and introducing innovative solutions such as carsharing. At the same time, challenges in local transport were addressed, particularly those caused by strikes and road construction. The Environmental and Mobility Committee played a central role in these efforts.

Local Mobility: Bike Stations and Bike Lockers

A key project was the promotion of local mobility through the establishment of bike stations and bike lockers. As part of a grant agreement with Diakonisches Werk gGmbH, the city received a financial boost of 165,991 EUR for 2026. These funds are being used to set up bike stations at central transport hubs such as Mönchengladbach and Rheydt main train stations.

Additionally, bike lockers are being installed in residential areas to support commuters and local transport users. These measures are part of the city’s comprehensive local mobility promotion, designed as a response to climate change and increasing traffic pressure.

Accessibility: Implementation of the Local Transport Plan

Another focus was on accessibility in public local transport. The Environmental and Mobility Committee approved a catalog of measures for the gradual implementation of barrier-free bus stops. The goal is to create a publicly accessible directory of all bus stops with information on their accessibility.

Close collaboration with disability organizations is being conducted to set priorities. A time, action, and financial plan for the renovation of non-accessible bus stops was also presented. Regular reports to the district councils will ensure transparency regarding progress.

Carsharing: Free-flow Offer and Parking Incentives

Mönchengladbach is also relying on carsharing to reduce motorized individual transport. The provider MILES received an exemption that allows for free parking of carsharing vehicles on public parking lots. This exemption is valid until 2027 and is part of the city's parking concept.

The fleet is being expanded to 70 vehicles, with the long-term goal of having up to 100 vehicles available. Studies show that one carsharing vehicle can replace up to 23 private cars. In addition, carsharing users more frequently use public transport than car owners, which strengthens the goal of multimodal mobility.

Quality of Public Transport: Challenges and Improvements

The quality report from the local transport company NEW m+a MG GmbH showed that public transport in Mönchengladbach faces challenges. Punctuality was at 66% during the reporting period, significantly below the target of 80%. Causes included strikes, accidents, technical failures, and traffic disruptions.

The failure rate was 3.6%, also falling short of the target of 2%. Nevertheless, connection reliability slightly increased, with 87% of connections being maintained. Measures such as the optimization of health management and the expansion of bus stops are intended to improve punctuality.

Outlook: Mobility 2027 and Beyond

Mobility development in Mönchengladbach is dynamic and future-oriented. The planning of a barrier-free replacement bridge on Theodor-Heuss-Straße, the creation of a rail stop in the industrial area of Güdderath, and stronger promotion of carsharing are just a few examples of the long-term projects to be realized in the coming years.

Mönchengladbach is moving along a path that combines innovation, sustainability, and social participation. With clear objectives and close cooperation with partners and citizens, mobility in the city will not only function – it will be experienced.