This position paper shows why the German transport system is in urgent need of reform, not only from an environmental but also from a societal point of view. Households with low incomes, women, children or elderly people are disproportionately affected by transport-related emissions, although they contribute comparatively little to the stress caused by transport. In addition, households with high incomes receive proportionally greater benefit from environmentally harmful transport subsidies such as a company car privilege. These subsidies should therefore be abolished and scarce public space should be redistributed in favour of walking, cycling and public transport.