Favourite mode of public transport

[RogueBeaver]

Mine's always been the metro.

[Hatman 🍁]

I remember enjoying the subway on trips to Montreal and Toronto.

[Ebowed]

Rail.  I catch the train and bus 5 days a week, and I can only wish the train commute was longer than the bus commute (though that would make the work physically further away from where I live, so maybe not).

[traininthedistance]

Obviously subways are best; this is quite the unfair fight.

I do want to say a quick word for the lowly, unlovely bus, though: in many situations they are the best (or only) solution; and they can be reliable and comfortable if people are willing to make the right investments, and it's really kind of a tragedy how much social welfare we're leaving on the table* by dismissing them as the "loser cruiser".

*both in terms of dooming bus-riders to substandard service, and in terms of large swaths of population not even thinking about them as a part of the transport fabric, even where they are and should be.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I took the train every day for several months, and enjoyed it. It's a cheap way to go a fairly long distance.

[tmthforu94]

NOTA

[Napoleon]

NOTA

Subway

[Indy Texas]

Obviously subways are best; this is quite the unfair fight.

I do want to say a quick word for the lowly, unlovely bus, though: in many situations they are the best (or only) solution; and they can be reliable and comfortable if people are willing to make the right investments, and it's really kind of a tragedy how much social welfare we're leaving on the table* by dismissing them as the "loser cruiser".

*both in terms of dooming bus-riders to substandard service, and in terms of large swaths of population not even thinking about them as a part of the transport fabric, even where they are and should be.

Buses confuse the hell out of me. When I'm out of town, I can get on the local subway and know that as long as I get on the right color track, I'm going to get to my destination sooner or later. Get on the wrong numbered bus and you're in for a total disaster.

[traininthedistance]

Obviously subways are best; this is quite the unfair fight.

I do want to say a quick word for the lowly, unlovely bus, though: in many situations they are the best (or only) solution; and they can be reliable and comfortable if people are willing to make the right investments, and it's really kind of a tragedy how much social welfare we're leaving on the table* by dismissing them as the "loser cruiser".

*both in terms of dooming bus-riders to substandard service, and in terms of large swaths of population not even thinking about them as a part of the transport fabric, even where they are and should be.

Buses confuse the hell out of me. When I'm out of town, I can get on the local subway and know that as long as I get on the right color track, I'm going to get to my destination sooner or later. Get on the wrong numbered bus and you're in for a total disaster.

Bus route design, and bus map design, is a thorny problem and I totally hear you that it's hard to avoid confusion- especially in areas where the bus network is rich enough that it's a viable option for the non-desperate. 

My hope is that this is one area where that overhyped magic word "technology" can actually make a big difference and demystify things.  If you can just look up where you want to go (with smartphones, even after you've left the house) and plug it into, say, HopStop or something, that lowers the barrier to entry tremendously.  Better, and better-known, products of that sort are to be honest, one of the biggest low-hanging fruits we have.  (And it kinda makes me wish I had actually learnt how to computer when I was young, so I could actually work on those sorts of things.)

[Franzl]

They all serve their purpose depending on the circumstances. An effective public transport situation should consist of subways, commuter rail, trams and busses.

Personally, I enjoy subway systems the most.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Lol.

In any case, sidewalks.

[Antonio the Sixth]

High-speed rail is fantastic. I also really like tramways. Subway is the one I take regularly, and though it serves its purpose quite well it's rarely as welcoming/comfortable as the previous two.

[Franzl]

High-speed rail is fantastic. I also really like tramways. Subway is the one I take regularly, and though it serves its purpose quite well it's rarely as welcoming/comfortable as the previous two.

I don't really regard long-distance high-speed rail as "public transport" anymore than I would include airplanes.

Sure, you could in a literal sense....but long-distance travel is often a luxury that isn't available to everyone.

[Indy Texas]

High-speed rail is fantastic. I also really like tramways. Subway is the one I take regularly, and though it serves its purpose quite well it's rarely as welcoming/comfortable as the previous two.

I don't really regard long-distance high-speed rail as "public transport" anymore than I would include airplanes.

Sure, you could in a literal sense....but long-distance travel is often a luxury that isn't available to everyone.

Yeah, by that logic, does a regularly scheduled commercial airline that is government-owned qualify as public transport?

[Napoleon]

High-speed rail is fantastic. I also really like tramways. Subway is the one I take regularly, and though it serves its purpose quite well it's rarely as welcoming/comfortable as the previous two.

I don't really regard long-distance high-speed rail as "public transport" anymore than I would include airplanes.

Sure, you could in a literal sense....but long-distance travel is often a luxury that isn't available to everyone.

Yeah, by that logic, does a regularly scheduled commercial airline that is government-owned qualify as public transport?

Public transportation/mass transit is typically used for commuting. It would make sense for high speed railways and public airlines to be excluded from that definition.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I like LRT if it has dedicated lanes. San Diego's system was great when I visited in 2010. Took us right to the border for a day of fun, crime, and caution in Tijuana.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Took us right to the border for a day of fun, crime, and caution in Tijuana.

If Hunter Thompson was alive today, that'd be the title of one of his books.

[H. Ross Peron]

[1] Surface Rail (trains, light rail, trams, streetcars etc.)
[2] Subways
[3] Buses

[bedstuy]

I've commuted using the DC metro, NYC Subway, East River Ferry, Boston T, Boston bus system and Boston commuter rail system.

I loved commuting on the ferry because of the nice sea air and the beautiful views of the skyline.  It's also super quick once you get a ferry.  Commuter rail is nice too, but it's way more expensive than a subway ride.  The subway can be annoying the morning during rush hour, but it's cheap and convenient for getting anywhere.  

The NYC subway is the best though because you can get almost anywhere in the city.  You can go hiking, go to the beach, see four boroughs and all you need is a metrocard.  

[DC Al Fine]

Rail of some sort is the best experience, but I think buses are the best over all for their flexibility and affordability. Rail/Subway is a pipe dream for most cities, but the bus offers a simple, affordable way for cities to develop effective public transit.

Now if only they would start running the damn things properly.

[Dixie Reborn]

The Miami monorail is pretty awesome. Here in Alabama, I take the train.

[Nutmeg]

I take a subway all the time; today I took it to 2 different work locations, happy hour, and then home. That said, it's a little dark down there, and I often wish I could be above-ground instead. Streetcars are a lot of fun when they have a dedicated lane. D.C. is slowly restoring its streetcar network, and I'm really hoping the next line will run down the major avenue right near my house.

Istanbul has it right - their public transportation network includes buses, subways, above-ground rail, streetcars, ferries, gondolas, and a funicular. Something for everyone.

[Fed. Pac. Chairman Devin]

N/a Ive only rode a bus, and every time it has been a disaster.