The 5 Best Mass Transit Systems in the World

Sadly, I haven't been on any of the mass transit systems listed here but I was quite impressed with the Moscow Metro system. Not only is it very fast & efficient, but its extremely affordable (downright cheap, I'd say) and the stations are so ornate that they resemble museums moreso than subways stops.

move to chicago and rethink this list. i've travelled every one of these lines except for hong kong and can confidently say chicago has no place within this list. i ride the el everyday and can't recall the last time i made it through a commute without some form of delay, overcrowding, stench of urine, broken temperature gauge, cta employee ineptitude, construction issue, electrical complication, ill communication, track derailment, etc... some of these issues are due to the passengers but 90% of the time it's all on the cta.

i live 3 miles from work and spend an hour each way. every day. if there were showers at work i'd start riding my bike, but until that happens i'm stuck.

What about Moscow or St. Petersburg? They run every few minutes, are gorgeous, and are hugely expansive.

I second the preceding poster's opinion on the Chicago metro system. I also suggest you take more time to visit Europe and Asia. I found most of the metro systems there to be superb to anything I've seen in North America.

3 miles? You can walk that in an hour... and cycling without pushing yourself wouldn't make you sweaty enough to need a shower.

I would have to agree with kevin. I have lived in chicago all my live and thank good i dont have to rely on the Cta to get me to work. With all the construction and route cuts its horrible.

I'm totally shocked Tokyo didn't make the cut. Despite the perception of packed sub lines I never experienced any of the pushing and shoving one sees in movies/documentaries. I endured far more shoulder-to-shoulder pressing on the Tube and Metro then I did on Tokyo's subway lines. The bus system is extremely disciplined too.

singapore should be included. getting around in singapore, is very easy and convenient. Their train and bus system are linked.

No Tokyo??

I think they are basing their Chicago choice on the fact of how far away you can get from where Mass Transit is worst.

I agree with burt. Compared to pretty much every European system I've been on the Chicago el is a disaster. The trains run infrequently, and unless you're going somewhere in the center, chances are there isn't a station nearby. Compare this to London, Berlin, Hamburg, or Moscow, which I have ridden a lot. All of these systems regardless of their flaws, get people to pretty much anywhere and do so in a timely manner. Chicago does not belong on this list.

I could vouch for Hong Kong's mass transit system. I live in Hawaii which is known to have mass transit problems but I had no problems getting around Hong Kong. Their subway system is very fast, goes to communities so it's quick, inexpensive, and come in very short intervals. Not only that, they have heavy busses(double deckers) and smaller busses that go directly from one place to another with little or no stops. Out of the heavy population of the city, there aren't many traffic jams.

Not including Berlin on this list is a huge oversight. Germany has one of the best public transit systems in the world. Efficient, punctual, quick - and Berlin's is no exception.

I've been to most major city in the states, just moved to Hong Kong a few months ago and let me tell you. Public transportation here is awesome. Every 3 minutes a train comes. Trains do not share tracks with each other, so you won't have the issue the BART system in San Francisco has, waiting for the right train, or even the NY subway system. Basically you have to see it to believe it. It's awesome here. Oh btw, Universal Health Care here, people get taxed only at 17% for income. Figures huh? Maybe money is well spent.

CHANGE THE LIST.

Man.

Tokyo is number 1 by far.

Mass transit there moves 10 million plus a day. 121 train lines, with 1 train station -Shinjuku- that does 3.52 million a day. A F__ing day . With some of the most complex, high speed, efficient, and clean trains / subways in the world.

This beats hong kong HANDS DOWN.

Do some research before you publish an article.

CITING:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_in_Greater_Tokyo

All of Japan and Moscow are easily better than NYC or Chicago. If anything for their complete punctuality.

Singapore is world renowned for its clean and efficient mass-rapid systems. Automatic driverless trains and suberbly designed stations all add to the experience. How they are not included in this list is a mystery.

How could you miss Singapore or Tokyo?

I agree that Chicago should not be here, having also ridden in Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Chicago and Southern California.

I've been all over Europe and Japan and NONE of the top 5 mass transit systems are in the US, I garuntee it. I've used the Chicago system several times and NY many times.

You can't consider "sprawl" as your only requirement for "best system". There are many factors, such as, cleanliness, upkeep, construction, timing, how far it takes you, and cost.

Take Germany for example. I lived there for a month and could walk down the street to my corner. From that corner I could get to almost any other corner IN THE COUNTRY for less than 100$. Also the cars were pristine (German people cared for them when they used them) and up to date (nice maps, low graffiti, electronic dot maps, computerized announcements in 3 languages which you REALLY appreciate if you ever try to listen to the subway in NY. I fricking speak the language and I have no clue what they are saying "abaklsdhflkajbkajhsdfkhj" is about what it sounds like.")

Now I live in Japan, where the price is higher but the trains are faster and nicer and the concept of "on time" is more of a religion.

You might also consider lower level systems such as Chile. Sure they have no trains but there is a high concentration of collective cabs that make owning a car there a practically silly endevour. I could get anywhere in the city by walking out my front door and waiting between 1-3 min. for a cab to pass by, then paying 75cents and getting off whenever I wanted to (they go by routes). Also I could shell out 2$ and take one an hour away to a city on the beach. The bus system is rather hectic, but there is always transportation. You just go to the station and find out when the next bus is leaving for whever and buy a ticket. There's always a bus, since that's what everybody uses to get around.

You missed Tokyo (and all of Japan, in general). More efficient and comprehensive than any of the above selections.

I would also add the Mumbai subarban train system to the list. For four reasons.....
1. It carries close to 7.5M people daily
2. Cost per ride is 10 Cents
3. The frequency: A train every 3 minutes six weeks a day
4. 94% accuracy for time

has Madrid been considered as an option?

I've been in Paris and Madrid. Madrid is way more modern ... and faster ...

I agree Kevin, whoever wrote this list obviously doesn't take transit.

Curitiba, Brazil has a much cheaper and more efficient transit system than most of the places on this list.

The cta is good, but when there's christmas fireworks at navy pier its a disaster. I remember once they told some people to get off due to the bus being to full and shortly thereafter they put more people in the bus. It was crazy.

CTA is FAR FROM A WORLD CLASS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. Chicago's CTA does not belong on this list. Yes, its massive and can take you many places. However, the CTA is awful. Trains have derailed twice in the past few months. Even the evacuation was chaotic. The CTA is always short of funding. Every year, public money needs to bail the CTA out because of poor management.

From experience, riding public transportation in Chicago is dangerous. My sister was assaulted by a random stranger. Gang bangers run up and down each train car and harass passengers. Ive seen dried blood all over train car poles, leading to a puddle on the ground. Was never cleaned up.

There is no point of train or bus schedules since they run at their most convenience. I once waited for a CTA bus for AN HOUR, and was late to work. I have waited for a train at the worst 45 minutes, and was late to class. Bus drivers do not care, train operators do not care.

Never on time, is always inconvenient, dirty and stinks, most of the time crowded, no security whatsoever, bus drivers tend to run over pedestrians... I could go on and on. Please take the CTA off your list. The lists' credibility is in question.

Forgot to mention that in Germany we had to pay a tax of 2$ a day (about 60$ a month) and that covered local transit. We lived in a collection of about 175 small villages spread over a huge section of the black forest in southwestern Germany. Rail transit connected all the villages and had trains in and out of all of them several times a day. Basically nobody drove anywhere (except in the one larger city).

Also the biggest difference I've noticed abroad in subway systems in noise level. In NY and Chicago it sounds like you are freaking on the tracks in a convertible. I was downright terrified the first time I rode in NY after taking only European transit for a month.

Even though I am not religious, I thank God that Melbourne 's Transport system is not on this list. Incessantly delayed trains, prohibitively high ticket prices, bullying ticket inspectors and myki?, ha another cost blowout in down under(for excellence)

Well I experience the New York Subway day and night. I would say on average the experience has been negative.

This is a list of heavily used, big, and functional subways, not a list for positive riding experiences.

Also they must have closed some mental health facilities in New York and bums rule the subways at night. During the day, the stench and dirt from their clothes is on the seats. It is not very visible, just makes the seats look darker with some black streaks, but you will remember where you sat if you smell your own clothes.

Chicago??? Are you joking?!

I am from Chicago and currently live in Japan. Chicago lost its place on this list well over 30 years ago. Tokyo has the same system that Hong Kong does, including the pass cards that can be used at restaurants and convenience stores. Why isn't it on the list?

Interesting theme but I think you missed Moscow and Tokyo. The Moscow Metro carries over 7 million people per day and has stations that look like museums. Tokyo's trains are so punctual that you could set your watch to them.

The Paris system is so complicated, its ridiculous. I cannot believe that the U Bahn/S Banh in Berlin failed to make this list. So efficient and easy to use, even if you don't speak Deutch!

move to chicago and rethink this list. i’ve travelled every one of these lines except for hong kong and can confidently say chicago has no place within this list. i ride the el everyday and can’t recall the last time i made it through a commute without some form of delay, overcrowding, stench of urine, broken temperature gauge, cta employee ineptitude, construction issue, electrical complication, ill communication, track derailment, etc… some of these issues are due to the passengers but 90% of the time it’s all on the cta.
i live 3 miles from work and spend an hour each way. every day. if there were showers at work i’d start riding my bike, but until that happens i’m stuck.

I agree 100% When I read that the CTA was so high, I began to question the validity of the entire article. I don't know one person who actually enjoys riding the CTA. I guess from a statistics stand-point it may move a lot of people, but it takes a long time and you're lucky if there are no delays. I only hope that the constant consruction will start to show that it is working to make it a better, faster service.

Uh, it's hard to figure a list such as this without mention of Tokyo. I know we're all free to make stuff like this up, but I think you might have thought this one out a little better before posting. (Or traveled more, perhaps.)

I can't believe you forgot Tokyo, their subway/train system is definitely one of the most reliable and efficient. Did you even think about this article before you made it?

New York is pretty bad. I've lived here all my life. Same description as Kevin Burt, but for NY. Always some sort of delays. Weekends, the train schedules are slower, and often have detours. Weekdays during rush hours, it's sardines in a can.
Hong Kong on the other hand is fantastic. All trains have estimates on when it is coming. Air conditioned stations. Each train comes around 5 minutes or less. Why is it so much better in Hong Kong, than everywhere else. One word, Competition. The trains are rivaled by the bus and van companies. Basically, where ever you want to go, you can take either a train, a van, a bus, or a taxi. And unbelievably, a bus ride is sometimes monumentally faster than a train ride. So there you have it, Competition.

I'd put Toronto and Montreal's mass transit systems favourably up against New York's for sure, haven't been on any of the others, but I think you missed the most pleasant mass transit experiences in North America by skipping over those two.

I live in chicago and it's decent but Seoul easily beats it, Paris and maybe even HK.

I agree with kevin that Chicago has no business on this list.

And how do you leave Tokyo off? It's one of the most efficient systems in the world and handles more passengers than Hong Kong.

Very offside list:

Madrid, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Many cities in Germany, Scandinavia ... Chicago doesn't belong, New York could maybe justify 5th...

Chicago? Chicago? Have you ridden the el? The Chicago Transit Authority is a mess. It's underfunded, poorly run, decrepit, and dangerous. The trains are unreliable and very, very slow and very, very noisy.

It's just a matter of time before there's a fatal accident.

Mitch

@Kevin: I really don't know what you're talking about. I went to school in Chicago not to recently, and as a student, I used the el, not just once or twice a day, but literally multiple times a day. Not once did I have any sort of the problems you talk about. Is your definition of "delay" a 5 minute wait? Chicago's transit is pure heaven compared to most place's systems. Ever try to catch a bus in Louisville, KY? Expect to wait several hours since they only hit bus stops 5 or less times a day.

um, Tokyo?

Uh, it’s hard to figure a list such as this without mention of Tokyo. I know we’re all free to make stuff like this up, but I think you might have thought this one out a little better before posting. (Or traveled more, perhaps.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Subway

7.8 million passengers/day and always, always on time (to the minute) unless someone jumps in front of a train. And these numbers don't count the numerous private rail lines.

what a joke, tokyo isnt even on here? not to mention this "octopus card" they talk about, is the exact same thing that the tokyo lines use as well...

You forgot Singapore.

New York #2 you better be jocking!!! The worst system ever!! Never on time, always breaks down, undependable!!!

The best system I know is in Russia, cleanest not a single gum on the floor, every station is like a palace, and train comes every 2min on the dot, never late.

What about Tokyo's amazing system. Clean, always on time, and can get you anywhere you need.

In the above list, I have utilized both Paris and New York transit systems. I am surprised that Munich (Germany) is not mentioned. I think it is one of the cleanest mass transit systems considering the number of passengers utilizing it.

I agree with Kevin. The author has clearly never ridden the Chicago subway/el system. Every time I ride it I feel as if I'm one lazy worker forgetting to tighten a bolt away from a derailment. Also, I've ridden both the Tokyo and Osaka subway lines and found them to be VASTLY superior to anything in this country.