Unequal mobility

On average, migrants need over 10% more time for their everyday journeys of the same distance than people without a migration background in German cities. This disadvantage results from several factors: less car use, living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, and making mobility compromises to protect themselves from situations perceived as unsafe. These are the findings of a new WZB study by Sarah George, Katja Salomo and Theresa Pfaff. Their findings are based on the “Mobilität in Deutschland 2017” survey and qualitative interviews.

The study results show that first and second generation migrants need, on average, 10% more time for commuting to work, 11% more for errands, and 10% more for care-related trips than natives for the same distances. These discrepancies are partly due to the fact that people with a migrant background own and use fewer cars, which often leads to more time being spent traveling.

Residential segregation also provides part of the explanation. The unequal distribution of people with a migrant background in German cities has increased considerably in recent decades. They are more likely to live in neighborhoods that offer poorer access to public transport and local services and where the general quality of housing is lower.

However, these factors do not fully explain the higher time expenditure. The qualitative interviews show that safety concerns when using public transport also have a negative impact on the daily mobility of immigrants. Many of the interviewees tried to avoid certain places, either in general or at certain times, which ultimately increases the travel time. Furthermore, migrants perceive public buses as unreliable and inefficient. This unreliability is an additional source of stress and anxiety, especially for those who cannot afford their own car.

Spending a lot of time on everyday journeys has a proven negative impact on quality of life, particularly on health and well-being.

06/06/25, MP