Substituting Car Trips: Does Intermodal Mobility Decrease External Costs and How Does It Affect Travel Times? An Analysis Based on GPS Tracking Data

This study quantifies the reduction in external costs and changes in travel times resulting from the shift from car use to intermodal travel in Munich, based on real-world tracking data. By re-routing all car trips and calculating the travel times, distances, and externalities of alternative modes, we demonstrate that without increasing travel time, external costs can be reduced by 21 %, and by up to 77 % if a doubling of travel time is accepted. These findings highlight the significant benefits of intermodal mobility for urban transportation planning and underline its importance as a viable alternative to the private car.