Favorite Public Transportation System

[The Terminator 0]

Mine is SEPTA in Philadelphia,PA because it is just plain awesome.

Whats yours?

[bakercity 270]

Kenosha (Wisconsin) Area Transit ((KAT)). It includes several PCC Streetcars (trolleys), tourist bus trolley,and regular city buses. And it has cool colors and quite friendly and really cheap to ride. It serves City of Kenosha, part of Village of Pleasent Prairie and I-94/WI-50 area and the dog track and UW-Parkside.

[topcliff 1]

I'd have to say Regional Transit where I live in Sacramento. It has an ever-extending light rail system that now takes you out to Folsom (I say it'll eventually transition into BART lines in the future), and Sacramento has an extensive bus system that pretty much runs everywhere in the county. Plus, with the new line going to Valley Station, it will make commuting to the Bay Area so much easier for people in say, Elk Grove. That's my opinion. TopCliff

[Duke87 1,070]

Meh. SEPTA's subway system is small. Two lines. Pathetic.

New York, on the other hand, has 22 lines, plus 3 shuttles to its subway. So I'm gonna have to go with MTA here.

Like SEPTA for philly, MTA also runs the city busses and regional commuter rail. MTA also controls several of NYC's bridges and tunnels (none of Phily's bridges are run by SEPTA). But Philly still has a few trolley lines, whereas all the trolley tracks in New York have been either ripped up or paved over decades ago, replaced by busses completely.

One thing I will give SEPTA credit for, though, is having a more unique name. There are other cities with a "Metropolitan Transportation Authority". Philly is the only one with a "SouthEastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority".

[montrouge 2]

I love Metro Tokyo but I never been here.

My favorite public transportation system is RATP
This compagny finance and build subway in develloping countries
(The subway of Mexico, Sao Paulo, Cairo and very partially Tehran was financed and built by the RATP)

The RATP is the compagny of Paris metro, RER lines A and B, bus and light rails
(RER A is the busiest line in the western world Russsia exclude)

Paris metro has 16 lines and 297 named stations (298 in june 2007) for 211 km
 It carry  5 million passengers in average workday, It is actually the densest subway in the world

RER (It is an express subway  and also a commuter train)
 and

[BarbulaM1 38]

I would have to say the DC Metro. Clean, fairly new (as metros go) and goes everywhere I wanted to when I was there. Also the CTA (Chicago), I've ridden it quite a few times, it needs cleaned up alot, but Im sure if it is it would be a wonderful system. Here in Colorado, Denver's new system isn't up to par yet, but with the expantion I think it will be on my list soon .

Oh and Moscow... with their elaborate packed to the max stations.

[baystatebill 2]

My favorite is the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority). Affectionately known as the "T". The 'T" consist of 5 subway-mass transit lines that spread out from downtown Boston to surrounding suburbs. It also runs 13 commuter rail lines that reach as far north as the NH state line, west as Worcester and as far south as TF Green Airport in Warwick RI. The MBTA alsong with AMTRAK runs 2 main train stations, North Station, which is on the ground floor of the Banknorth Garden, and South Station in the cities financial district. Recently the state announced plans to create an 14th and 15th lines that will reach the Massachusetts South Coast cities of Fall River and New Bedford. The "T" also runs city bus service in Boston and 45 surrounding communities. The MBTA built the first suway line in North America runninge between Park St and Arlington St along today's Green Line. The "T" is the nations fifth largest mass transit system. In total it serves 145 cities and towns in Massachusetts and Rhode Island serving over 4.5 million people.

[xxbydesign 1]

In SEPTA's defense, it gets me where I need to go when I need to go there, so I can't complain about that. However, I can complain that it is a very central-focused plan, i.e. all roads lead to Rome and NOWHERE ELSE. Practially all connections (besides busses) need to be made in Center City, which is a pain.

Duke87:

Meh. SEPTA's subway system is small. Two lines. Pathetic.

New York, on the other hand, has 22 lines, plus 3 shuttles to its subway. So I'm gonna have to go with MTA here.quote>

Comparing NYC transit system to Philly's is unfair, and this is because cities, like people, have grown up in different places under different influences with different goals.

New York is an island... whoever thought cramming 7 million people (exagerated) on an ISLAND was a good idea was on something, probobly marajuana, if you get the reference. The point is, NYC is DENSE, and HUGE and completely out of human scale. It always has been and always will be. Philadelphia, however, my queen on the Delaware, is not on an island; It had a far reaching countryside into which it could spread. Hense, Philadelphia developed at a much lower scale than did NYC, so it was more sprawling than NYC could initally be. This isnt to say there is no density, heavens no, but we still retain the proud distinction of being a "walking city" or "a city of neighborhoods" because our scale is much more human. (sidenote: i am NOT saying NY is inhuman; I love NYC, and there are times when i wish Philly was more like NYC, and then I slap myslef and remind myself where I am)

Because they deveoped differently, thier transit solutions were different. NYC needed the space, so they went underground. Philly, however, had space aplenty, so we used trolleys. Unfortunately, when Ford became a genius and a greedy capitalist all at the same time, he bought out Philadelphia's trolley system and disbanded it, forcing everyone to use cars instead. Hense why we never had a subway network already established like NYC. So while it may look like we don't have much transit, we USED to, and we're slowly bringing it back, recovering the old rails and so forth.

Anyway, thats my rant, I also like Washington DCs metro; its very chic.

[diablo_del_bano 3]

MATRA's rail system is like that too. Two lines that only cross in Five Points. Of course they have busses too, but then that is no big feat for any city, even smaller ones.

[DFire870 2]

Originally posted by: diablo_del_bano MATRA's rail system is like that too. Two lines that only cross in Five Points. Of course they have busses too, but then that is no big feat for any city, even smaller ones.quote>

You'd be surprised... Arlington, TX, which is a suburb of the DFW metroplex, is about 300,000 people, and has no public transportation system (including buses). In fact, it's the largest in the US without one. This is mainly because people don't want to pay extra taxes to have their own system or to be covered under DART (Dallas system) or The T (Fort Worth system).

Anyways, I really liked the Washington, D.C. metro system, as well as the Paris one.

[chatbat1 1]

My favorite Public Transit station is Chicago's lines. Which include CTA and Metra, South Shore, and Amtrak's Hiawatha. It is a great place to watch people, it is also a great place to see over 200 trains a day.

[Jersey08 0]

YIKES That French System A) too crowded B) Accident\Terror Attack Nightmare

[Jersey08 0]

I think NYC gets it simply because they are able to cope with the aforementioned massive population. Also consider that the MTA funnels commuters from Connecticut...7 Million isnt an exaggeration, its probably underestimated for how many people are in New York at one time...Residents, shoppers, commuters and those passing through.

Also the MTA and NJ Transit co-operation system is extremely well run and seamless

[hymewales 13]

I like the Japanese rail system. I have yet to go to New York. But while living in Japan, I found you can travel cheaply to many areas of the country; Harajuku and Shinjuku to watch the Nissan Skyline race a superbike; Roppongi to party; Yokohama for the Naval Base; Ginza to window shop; Akihabara, the electronic part of Tokyo, and back to Tachikawa where the good ole' Air Force Base was. Man, I miss those days...

[Jhaville 0]

i will put in a vote for worst sytem and that has to be without any question Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Embarrassing

[HuskerDude 12]

It may not be the most advanced, or densest, or biggest, but I really love San Francisco's MUNI/BART/CalTrain system. The subway stations are clean and pleasant, the trains tend to run on time, it's cheap, and between the 3 of them, you can get almost anywhere. I read somewhere that no matter where in the city of San Francisco you are, you're never more than 2 blocks from a bus stop.

Plus, the BART stations look like something out of an old science-fiction movie. In fact, they were in one! (THX-1138)

[Ratieya455 1]

I've only been on the LRT systems of Boston, NYC, Minneapolis, and DC, and I was most impressed with the DC metro. Minneapolis's system was nice and well-done, but it needs more routes in order to be a really good system.

As for the mass transit system I use often, the Metro Area Transit of Fargo, ND and Moorhead, MN, It is quite good for a town of that size. There are 32 routes that get you through most of the metro area, they are clean and plenty warm in the winter (big issue), and college students at all 3 universities in town ride for free.

[david1314 44]

NYC for one reason.... Single-fare structure!

Though, admitedly, London's is the easiest and most convenient I've used.

And Denver's gets special mention because I use it daily and it's very convenient. Much quicker than driving I-25 for that time of day.

[Sticksboi05 2]

Well, I will give my favorites.

A: Washington Metro; I live here and use it often.  It is clean, safe, and pretty modern.  By 2015 it'll go to Tysons Corner and Dulles Airport (it already serves Reagan Nat'l).

B: The T.  On my school orchestra trip we went to Boston.  The T is so cool.  Underground tram stations and it just has alot of character.

C: NYC Subway; huge, simple, goes EVERYWHERE and you can train surf : )

--------------------------

[ilikehotdogsalot 311]

Well, I'd have to pick the London Tube system simply because it's comfortable, clean and goes to the city's main attractions. [watch ill tonkso come in and correct me ]

My second choice will go to NYC Subway System because it's fast, cheap and goes pretty much everywhere. However, It is really gross, smelly and those plastic seats are not comfortable, What were these people thinking?! I think they need to give it a little remodel :S

[Uumke 0]

I like the Paris subway, but I have to see the subway of Vienna was very comfortable.

It has 5 lines: U1, U2, U3, U4 and U6. The U5 was cancelled.

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afbeelding:U-Bahn_Wien%2C_Netzplan.svg

[GMT 389]

mine is my car cuz i'm like driving around people all day long... or at least everytime I'm in... hehe

are planes considered public transport? then my fav pt are planes. because of the food. and the feeling.

wonderfull

[montrouge 2]

I like also London undergroun, the second busiest subway system in European Union.

Madrid metro is also good

[cammo2003 20]

Originally posted by: Jhaville i will put in a vote for worst sytem and that has to be without any question Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Embarrassingquote>

Erm, You might want to rethink that... Ever been to Sydney. All of the networks have hit capacity and it's terrible.

At least you folks retained the trams, that was a *smart* move.

Originally posted by: DFire870

Originally posted by: diablo_del_bano MATRA's rail system is like that too. Two lines that only cross in Five Points. Of course they have busses too, but then that is no big feat for any city, even smaller ones.quote>

You'd be surprised... Arlington, TX, which is a suburb of the DFW metroplex, is about 300,000 people, and has no public transportation system (including buses). In fact, it's the largest in the US without one. This is mainly because people don't want to pay extra taxes to have their own system or to be covered under DART (Dallas system) or The T (Fort Worth system).

Anyways, I really liked the Washington, D.C. metro system, as well as the Paris one.quote>

Egadz, that's terrible.

Even Wollongong, which has less than that in population here, has PT in the form of a rail line that cuts through it, and it's now looking at a tram line in the inner city (warranted, given the place is undergoing quite a population boom at the moment!). It has a lot of potential, that place.

Though the Gold Coast, at 500,000 barely has a functioning PT system (pretty much just buses, with a line out in the boonies that connects to Brisbane.

As a result of that, the Gold Coast Highway is pretty much a 30km carpark. There are, thankfully, plans to put in something resembling a good system, however.

[Matthew0227 1]

I've lived in more than 30 cities around the world and my favorite is the Montreal Subway system. I can go from the apt. where I live to my school without leaving the underground. It is huge and totally underground. And the best is that its really social and lets light come in.

[Sketchley 0]

Most favourite: the combinded Osaka mass transit system (subway (city), bus (city & private companies,) and rail (private companies); private operators = competition = low fares, and fast service.

First runner up: Seoul - low costs, and an expansive network. Though the lack of privately operated rail is a draw back - as the subway system doesn't have (a variety of classes of) express train.

PS technically ALL of Japan should be considered to have a public transportation system. One can literally get on a train in most every location, and get off a train in most every location. The exception being Okinawa, of course.

[ledge69 0]

I would love to say "Transport for London" but I would be lying as it is tatty, dated, inefficient and very expensive. Bendy buses, badly designed new trains and Crossrail mean that London is unlikely to have a decent transport system anytime in my lifetime.

So my vote goes to Madrid, a city only slightly smaller then London and yet look at the difference. Whilst politicians moan about cost here menaing nothing can be built il its 7 years out of date and has cost 5 times more then it should. Madrid has built a fantastic and extensive system that anticipates future growth and best of all its value for money.

[Airwonka 0]

1. Tokyo subways (during off hours)

2. DC Metro

3. Hong Kong - Octopus Card (Ferries, Buses, Trains, Speed Trains, Trams)

[villagemayor 0]

My favourite is in Hong Kong, and that includes everything (like what airwonka said). I was there last year, and its so easy to use, and its convenient. If there's no subway station, you've got dozens of bus routes at your disposal. The Octopus card is incredibly to use, and you can use the card to buy groceries and clothes too. The subway systems and the transit system in general is very clean because no food is allowed.

The only problem to the transit system is the height of the ceiling of the bus (especially the minibus). People in Hong Kong are short, compared to European or North American standards. I am 5'10", and I hit my head a couple of times.

[siso43 13]

My liking transportation are the Subway and the Bus, every day i use this transporter for my way too school op other place in the town.