At the start of the 49-euro ticket, the social association VdK criticized the fact that in many places the discounted monthly tickets are only available as mobile phone tickets. “The federal government and the transport associations must keep their word and make the ticket available without a smartphone,” said VdK President Verena Bentele according to the announcement. “Many old and poor people in Germany do not own a smartphone.”
According to the agreement between the federal and state governments, the transport companies and associations can offer the Deutschlandticket in three versions: as a mobile ticket, a plastic card with an electronic chip and temporarily until the end of the year also as a paper ticket.
Some transport companies, especially in rural areas, do not sell the Deutschlandtickets themselves. Others do not offer chip cards, at least for the time being. However, the demand for physically tangible Germany tickets is high, and not only among seniors. According to figures from the transport company MVG, only half of the Germany tickets in Munich were sold as mobile phone tickets in the first three weeks of April. “We demand a short-term, uncomplicated and barrier-free solution,” explained Bentele.
