Should European countries subsidize public transport amid fuel crisis?

Leaving the car at home and taking the train instead — soaring fuel prices are prompting more and more Europeans to make the switch.

But so far, only a handful of European countries have lowered public transport fares to encourage commuters to reduce fuel consumption.

Lithuania has taken one of the boldest steps in Europe, temporarily cutting train fares in half. 

Germany, meanwhile, has scrapped planned ticket price increases, while Austria is offering a risk-free, two-month trial of its nationwide annual transport pass.

"We wanted to give people an opportunity to try out the public transport system in Austria and experience the benefits first hand," said Sarah Batke from Austria’s national public transport sales platform, One Mobility.

Meanwhile, many other countries have opted to lower taxes on petrol instead. But while cheaper fuel may bring short-term relief, investing in public transport could offer a longer-lasting solution, at least in places where transport networks are strong enough for it to be a real alternative.

"I try to drive less," said Philipp, a resident of Linz. "Getting people back onto public transport it's the best way," added Gabrielle, a Vienna resident.

But in many rural areas, cars remain the only practical option. Experts say Europe still is not doing enough to encourage people to switch to public transport.

"In many cases, people are still dependent on their cars and need to be able to afford using their cars but what this crisis shows us is that it's not the first one and it will not be the last one," said Klara Schenk from mobility and transport NGO VCO.

"We really need to find ways in between crises to build up on our structural way to get people out of usual oil-dependent transport," she added.

Building new rail lines and expanding public transport networks often costs far more than temporarily cutting fuel taxes. Consumers are hoping governments can find a lasting solution to keep mobility both accessible and affordable.