Tag: Transportation

  • Top 7 Cities In The World For Travelers To Get Around On Public Transportation

    Top 7 Cities In The World For Travelers To Get Around On Public Transportation

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    Seasoned travelers know that when visiting a new destination, public transportation can simplify travel, allow you to gain independence, and help you save money.

    However, not all transportation is equal, and in some countries, public transport can significantly increase expenses and add stress. 

    Passenger waiting for train in beautiful subway station in Stockholm

    It can vary so much, even in the same country or region. Not every city has good public transportation, prices can change according to each method, and certain systems can be extremely complex. 

    However, there are cities with marvelous public transportation services that simplify things for foreigners and for their citizens. 

    Time Out Magazine recently published a list of the cities with the best public transportation in the world. 

    Here are the top 7 cities with great public transportation systems for travelers:

    7) Hong Kong

    Hong Kong’s highly developed transportation network ranked seventh place on this list. But a study performed by consulting firm Oliver Wyman in 2020 positioned this transportation service in the first place. 

    Why? This public transportation system —including the subway, buses, trams, and ferries— is efficient, affordable, clean, and comfortable. 

    The Mass Transit Railway (MTR) operates 10 lines that cover most areas, including the airport. 75% of the population lives within short walking distance from a subway station. 

    passengers inside subway train in Hong Kong

    6) Singapore

    Singapore makes it easy for travelers to move around. This destination already has the best airport in the world and recently launched free city tours for travelers on long layovers. 

    But for those who like independence and exploring a destination on its own, Singapore is perfect. 

    Its trains and buses are modern, and visitors can use the app MyTransport.SG to move around. Most main attractions are within walking distance from a subway station. 

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    Self Driving Light Rapid Transit LRT on elevated tracks in Singapore

    5) Stockholm

    Even though Stockholm looks “complicated”—Sweden’s capital has more than 50 bridges and includes 14 islands—it’s actually easy and stylish to use public transportation. 

    Its subway is beautiful, it looks like a museum —considered by many to be the world’s longest art gallery— and it also has a museum featuring its history. It was built in 1950, and it now has 100 stations across the city. 

    93% of local citizens consider the public transportation service, which also including buses, ferries, and trams, simple and easy to use. 

    People walking in T-Centralen station in Stockholm.

    4) Copenhagen

    This fascinating city has a great public transportation system, and it’s free in certain areas!

    Travelers can buy the Copenhagen Card and use just one ticket to take the subway, bus, s-trains, and even waterbuses. 

    With the Copenhagen Card, tourists only pay a fixed price and move around the entire capital region.

    It takes only 12 minutes to go from the airport to the city by train or subway. Children from 3 to 11 years old get their own free card. 

    Copenhagen, Denmark

    3) Tokyo

    Tokyo has a complex train network that takes millions of passengers across the city every day.

    Despite the large crowds and the viral videos of the packed trains, the system is highly efficient, clean, and easy to use. 

    If travelers avoid rush hours, they will find a great way to commute and visit top attractions in this city. There are official websites in English with clear information about routes and tickets for travelers. 

    Pedestrians crossing the street at Shibuya crossing with motion blur

    2) Prague

    Prague is such a charming city and can be even more enjoyable by tram or bus. The buses, subway, funiculars, trams, and trains work perfectly and can take you everywhere around the city. 

    The subway has only three main lines —green, blue, and yellow—  that take you to the main points of interest. Trains pass by every 2 to 10 minutes, depending on the time and the station, and it operates from 5 am til midnight. 

    Trams can be very useful and allow travelers to admire the city, its buildings, streets, and its magic essence while getting around.

    Church in prague with blue sky

    1) Berlin

    And the first place goes to Berlin! This German city earned this position since its citizens and visitors have great references for its public transportation network —97% of Berliners admire it. 

    In this city, travelers can also purchase one ticket to use all options: U-Bahn, S-Bahn, ferries, buses, regional trains, and more. 

    Young Female Tourist Taking A Picture Of The Bundestag In Berlin, Germany

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    This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

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  • Top 5 European Cities That Are Easiest To Get Around And Have The Best Public Transportation

    Top 5 European Cities That Are Easiest To Get Around And Have The Best Public Transportation

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    Anyone who has traveled to a big city knows that getting there is only half the battle. Navigating new urban areas can be overwhelming and expensive if you aren’t prepared. That’s why the travel planning company Omio has researched transportation options across major European cities to come up with a list of the places that are easiest to get around in.

    Top 5 European Cities That Are Easiest To Get Around And Have The Best Public Transportation

    Omio’s study looked at public transportation links, taxis, and shared mobility transport like shared bikes, scooters, and e-scooters available in 30 European cities. They also took into consideration the price of each mode of transportation to come up with a comprehensive ranking of cities with the most convenient and best-value urban transportation options. These are the top 5 European cities from the study that are the easiest to get around and have good public transportation.

    a row of bright green bikes line a bike path in Paris, a european destination

    1. Zurich, Switzerland

    Switzerland’s largest city topped the ranking in this study. Zurich has plenty of public transportation options, with 15 tram lines, 4 commuter train lines, and 67 bus routes to whisk locals and tourists across the city. The network is efficient and extensive, making travel within Zurich a breeze. The Zurich Airport is also well connected to public transport, making the need for a car obsolete for anyone staying within the city. Trains from the airport to the city’s main train station come every 10 minutes and take just 15 minutes.

    a man rides a bike in front of a train in Zurich, a european destination

    2. Berlin, Germany

    Berlin is a world leader when it comes to shared transportation. Germany’s capital city has tons of options when it comes to sharing programs for e-scooter, bikes, and motorscooters. According to Omio’s study, there are 16 different companies to choose from! Visitors traveling short distances within the city can choose from companies like Lime, Bird, or Tier. Anyone wanting to use a shared bike or scooter can download the relevant company’s app to locate, pay for, and unlock a bike or scooter. Just be sure not to ride on sidewalks or in pedestrian zones, or you will face a fine.

    people in Berlin ride on bright red bikes from a bike share program making transportation throughout the city easy

    3. Vienna, Austria

    The Austrian capital of Vienna is not only well-connected, but it also has affordable transportation choices. Taxi rates are reasonable, as are the shared mobility options. With 2 bike share providers, 7 e-scooter, and 3 motor scooter companies to choose from, getting around without a car is easy. Tickets on the city’s public transportation cost just $2.50, and the average price of a shared motor scooter is just $5.50.

    a colorful row of bikes is parked in front of a historic building in Vienna Austria

    4. Milan, Italy

    Milan is a good option for travelers who are looking to get around on the cheap. The city’s Metro offers a tourist pass allowing visitors to explore Milan using the metro, tram, or bus system for an affordable price. A three-day MilanoCard is $20 and includes $5 towards a taxi and a free coffee. The Milano Card also provides discounts at some of the city’s top attractions and can be customized to also include airport transfers at an additional cost.

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    A red city metro sign is displayed in front of a majestic church in Milan, Italy

    5. Paris, France

    Visitors to Paris will be able to see all of the city’s top sights via the intricate RATP system, which includes an efficient metro and an extensive bus network. You’ll also find bike and e-scooter shares all over the city, with 11 different companies to choose from. Because there are so many shared mobility companies, the rates are competitive and are a great option for inner-city travel in Paris.

    a woman riding a train looks out the window to see the Eiffel tower

    Other Cities That Are Easy To Navigate

    Omio’s inner-city mobility study looked at transportation options across 30 top cities in Europe. Other cities that ranked in the top 10 for transport options and affordability include:

    A view of the incline and Bica tram, Lisbon, Portugal
    • Porto, Portugal
    • Lisbon, Portugal
    • Brussels, Belgium
    • Warsaw, Poland
    • Frankfurt am Main, Germany

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  • Uber Is Bringing Carpool Rides Back To The U.S. For Cheaper Transportation Options

    Uber Is Bringing Carpool Rides Back To The U.S. For Cheaper Transportation Options

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    Now that millions of Americans are thinking twice about traveling this summer, due to the crippling price hikes for both fuel and flight tickets, Uber is relaunching an old feature many thought had been permanently removed – and one that may help travelers on a budget save money on short trips. Uber Pool is official back, with a few twists.

    Woman Calling Taxi Or Uber City Streets In A Modern City, Possibly New York City

    The Covid-induced inflation and its long-term impacts have changed the travel landscape abruptly in the last couple of months. We went from post-pandemic excitement to a full blown fuel and aviation crisis in only a matter of weeks, pushing up the price of travel and casting doubts on the long-anticipated economic recovery.

    Fortunately, Uber is doing its part in easing the burden currently shared by all travelers:

    Two Smiling Female Travelers Carpooling, Ride Sharing, While Wearing A Face Mask, Uber Concept Image

    Taking An Uber In 2022 Is About To Become Much Cheaper

    Two years after having suspended the Pool feature, as a result of the conflicting Covid regulations across different countries, and the need for social distancing, Uber is bringing it back under a new name: UberX Share. Besides the rebrand, the service provider has also made some major upgrades to the feature.

    Between 2019 and 2022, Uber fares rose by a staggering 45 per cent, as confirmed by Bloomberg, largely due to the rising cost of fuel in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Even though the tragic events in Europe are an ocean away from the States, the embargo on Russian oil is hitting Americans in the pocket.

    Gasoline Fuel Being Pumped Into Car, Road Trip Concept

    Under the current circumstances, filling up a car can easily cost over $100 in several U.S. states, affecting both drivers and customers relying on platforms such as Uber. With the return of the Uber carpool – re-titled UberX Share – passengers will be able to share a ride with other commuters to save on cash, making trips much more accessible again.

    Uber Pool 2.0 Has Some Major Improvements Over The Original

    Traveler Checking The Uber App During A Uber Ride, Uber Concept Image

    Starting this summer, riders will be able to ‘Share a Ride, Get Savings‘: in simpler terms, they will be entitled to an ‘upfront discount’ when choosing to travel with UberX Share, or up to 20% off the fare when succeeding in matching with a co-rider on the way. Taking an Uber to and from the airport has never been easier – or cheaper.

    Besides the discount, Uber is guaranteeing drivers will ‘Stay on Schedule’. Unlike the extinct Pool, UberX Share will only match co-riders traveling on the same route, allowing both drivers and passengers to optimize their time, and preventing the dreaded pickup, drop-off delays associated with carpooling.

    A Taxi/Uber Driver Helping A Passenger With Her Luggage At The Airport, Both Wearing Face Masks

    Additionally, UberX Share drivers are being instructed to arrive no more than 8 minutes later than their UberX counterparts, further improving service reliability for the summer season. While there is no way of predicting whether a flight will be axed or not amid the ongoing travel chaos, one thing is for certain: your Uber driver will be there.

    Besides the aforementioned improvements on co-rider matching and wait times, UberX Share will be limited to two passengers at a time. You read that right: no more sharing the car sandwhiched between three other strangers all heading in completely different directions. With this update, Uber rides are set to become a lot more comfortable.

    Mature Uber Driver Wearing A Face Mask During A Ride

    Lastly, by improving the carpooling experience and fixing a few of Uber Pool’s most common errors, the company promises to match ‘more people in fewer cars faster’. Coupled with the discounts, this will help lower fares drastically, as less fuel will be required and gas emissions per passenger will be curtailed.

    Where Is UberX Share Available?

    Uber Banner Displayed On A Public Building While United States Flags Are Flying

    So far, only a handful of cities in the U.S. have the feature available at the time this article was written. However, as summer rolls in and more travelers hit the road, more spots across America will be getting the long-awaited upgrade as well. For now, only commuters residing in the following cities can use UberX Share:

    • New York City
    • Los Angeles
    • Chicago
    • San Francisco
    • San Diego
    • Phoenix
    • Indianapolis
    • Portland
    • Pittsburgh

    For more updates on the UberX Share rollout, including new launch dates in specific cities, please refer to the Uber Newsroom.

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    Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling.  Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories

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