The 5 Best Mass Transit Systems in the World
Thu, Apr 24, 2008
Environmental Graffiti Will be Changing Dramatically Soon. Get a Sneak Preview By Signing Up Here.
As we all put our thinking caps on for this “save the environment” thing, and Americans begin to scream under the weight of rising fuel costs, one of the best ways around leaving a giant carbon footprint, or paying an arm and a leg, is to take the bus. Or the train. Or a subway.
Image from Wolmot
After all, why take a car? CNN filmed people paying for gas yesterday like it was news!
So, without further ado here are the five best places for you to be shacked up on this planet if you want to have somebody else take you from place to place.
5. Chicago
The huge Chicago Transit Authority covers the Windy City as well as 40 suburbs and operates 24 hours a day, moving 1.6 Million people daily. With over 144 stations for the elevated train, not much of the city is out of range for the famed “el.” There are even commuter rail spurs that go as far away as South Bend, Indiana. Nice.
Image from swanksalot
4. Paris
The Paris Metro boasts being both the second-most heavily trafficked subway system in the world, carrying 4.5 Million people every day, and having more stations closer to one another than any other system– 245 stations in 41 square kilometers. You might want to bring a book to escape from the sardine can.
Image from ancama_99
3. London
London, which features the oldest subway system in the world, moves 3.4 million people every day on the tube alone, but that’s only part of the story. Transport for London, the comprehensive system administered from the mayor’s office, operates light and commuter rail and buses, and offers comprehensive trip and traffic information in real-time on their website.Traveling on the tube is not a particularly pleasant experience, but is by far the most efficient way to get round.
Image from Kayodeak
2. New York
One in every three mass transit users in the entire United States, uses the New York system or if you like, 4.5 Million people a day. They’re so effective as a matter of fact, that New York is the only city in the U.S. where more than half of the households don’t own a car. Up to 75% of the population of Manhattan is without four-wheeled transport. Now that’s a statistic to beat.
Image from smoothdude
1. Hong Kong
For sheer volume, Hong Kong is the most effective system in the world: 90% of all traveling is done by mass transit. The 7 million daily riders have access to something known as an “octopus card” which is accepted as currency not just to move them around the city, but also at parking meters, convenience stores, and fast-food restaurants. Looking towards the future, shouldn’t all cities be copying this system?
Image from medwin
Environmental Graffiti is up for four bloggers’ choice awards. You can vote for us for best entertainment blog, best blog of all time, best geek blog and best animal blogger.
If you want to find out all the latest news on the environment, why not subscribe to our RSS feed? We’ll even throw in a free album.
You Might Also Like Our Friends' Posts From the Intertubes
“The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else.”
1 Trackbacks For This Post
-
London’s End at Tic Toc Life Says:
April 29th, 2008 at 7:40 am[...] still amazed me just how well this old transit system of London worked. Apparently it is even the 3rd best in the world, and the oldest! This was the first time I was riding the tube during rush hour on a week day. [...]
April 24th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
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.
April 24th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
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.
April 24th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
What about Moscow or St. Petersburg? They run every few minutes, are gorgeous, and are hugely expansive.
April 24th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
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.
April 24th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
3 miles? You can walk that in an hour… and cycling without pushing yourself wouldn’t make you sweaty enough to need a shower.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:33 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:37 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:37 am
singapore should be included. getting around in singapore, is very easy and convenient. Their train and bus system are linked.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:39 am
No Tokyo??
April 25th, 2008 at 2:41 am
I think they are basing their Chicago choice on the fact of how far away you can get from where Mass Transit is worst.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:42 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:42 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:44 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:44 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:45 am
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
April 25th, 2008 at 2:46 am
All of Japan and Moscow are easily better than NYC or Chicago. If anything for their complete punctuality.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:46 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:47 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:48 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:49 am
You missed Tokyo (and all of Japan, in general). More efficient and comprehensive than any of the above selections.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:49 am
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
April 25th, 2008 at 2:49 am
has Madrid been considered as an option?
I’ve been in Paris and Madrid. Madrid is way more modern … and faster …
April 25th, 2008 at 2:50 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:51 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:52 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:54 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:55 am
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)
April 25th, 2008 at 2:55 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:55 am
Chicago??? Are you joking?!
April 25th, 2008 at 2:56 am
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?
April 25th, 2008 at 2:57 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:58 am
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!
April 25th, 2008 at 3:00 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:00 am
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.)
April 25th, 2008 at 3:01 am
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?
April 25th, 2008 at 3:05 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:06 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:07 am
I live in chicago and it’s decent but Seoul easily beats it, Paris and maybe even HK.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:07 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:08 am
Very offside list:
Madrid, Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Many cities in Germany, Scandinavia … Chicago doesn’t belong, New York could maybe justify 5th…
April 25th, 2008 at 3:08 am
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
April 25th, 2008 at 3:11 am
@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.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:12 am
um, Tokyo?
April 25th, 2008 at 3:13 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:17 am
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…
April 25th, 2008 at 3:19 am
You forgot Singapore.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:19 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:20 am
What about Tokyo’s amazing system. Clean, always on time, and can get you anywhere you need.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:20 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:21 am
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.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:31 am
I live in HK and can confirm the MTR is great. I remember a few months back that it was “news” that an MTR train was delayed for 10 minutes whilst they repaired a hairline crack on the rail. The news was that people were angry that their train was delayed for so long!
April 25th, 2008 at 3:31 am
Surely you can walk faster than 3 MPH without breaking a sweat…why not do that if you can’t keep up with street traffic on a bike without breaking a sweat?
April 25th, 2008 at 3:32 am
Whaaat? No Tokyo? Impossible. They have more trains than nearly anywhere on the planet. Shit, Shinjuku station alone moves about 4-5 million people a day. This is a bullshit list.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:35 am
Edmonton Albera definatly has one of the worst transit systems in the world
April 25th, 2008 at 3:36 am
Shouldn’t Tokyo be on this list? You can get literally anywhere in Tokyo (and most of the suburbs) via their mass transit system. They’re multilingual (often in Japanese, English, and even Portuguese), constant, and no one can beat the Japan obsession with being exactly on time.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:36 am
I’m curious as to why Japan is nowhere to be found here. You can travel throughout the entire country for very little coin, and a train being late is nearly unheard of. In fact, when they DO run late, all passengers are given notes to hand off to employers as proof - otherwise, no one will believe you. The bus system is also extensive and very efficient. Also, bullet trains, anyone? Too cool.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:36 am
I agree Chicago shouldn’t be anywhere on this list.
If you haven’t used the Munich rail system with the S-Bahn (above ground trains) and the U-Bahn (underground), you are missing one of the best mass transit systems on the planet. The trains are exceptionally clean, stations are immaculate, and the interconnections between U-bahn and S-bahn are efficient. Coverage of Munich is exceptional. It doesn’t carry as many riders each day as Paris, London or New York, but it beats them all–hands down.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:41 am
The chicago transit authority should definately not be on this list. First of all, the said transportation to south bend indiana doesn’t run on the same pay system as the other trains, so thats a hassle. Second, construction has been going on for years now, and is really just not very efficient. Third, buses are late so often, it’s more guesswork than it is following a schedule. i’ve stood and waited for 3 scheduled buses to come, only to realize that they were never going to show up.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:43 am
kevin… if you’re three miles from work and it takes you an hour on cta, why not walk and save the aggravation?
April 25th, 2008 at 3:43 am
And the Tokyo system is what? Oh yes, the LARGEST mass transit system in the world with an estimated 20 million daily riders and over 100 different lines. Hong Kong is nice, sure, but it is tiny compared to Tokyo. I have been on every system on your list and Tokyo is the cleanest, most convenient and most on time in the world. Ben, how did you miss this one so completely? Here, let me help you out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_in_Greater_Tokyo
April 25th, 2008 at 3:44 am
I have to second Mr. Burt’s comments. I commute via CTA in Chicago every day, and have done it for 10 years. It has gotten progressively worse each of those ten years. Where a trip from downtown to O’Hare via Blue Line used to take 30 minutes, now it’s a miracle to do it in under 50. Brown and Red lines are plagued by delays due to construction, with no end in sight. CTA management wastes billions of dollars on construction projects not tied to track fixes and improvements (doing nothing to address the aforementioned derailments, the most recent of which occurred last week), instead gussying up stations for wealthy north side riders.
Coverage of the train system is incomplete and diminishing, as the CTA is soon to be closing one half of the Blue Line for good. Customers are forced to rely on buses, which on the South Side are 25+ years old and running down quickly. Bus bunching and therefore long waits are the norm, not the exception. Drivers frequently take long breaks and don’t give a rat’s patoot about keeping schedules, or picking up riders. Prices have increased but service has not improved. Routes which have hundreds of waiting riders per hour are ignored, while 3 empty buses for another route whiz by.
Look, it’s better than having nothing and therefore having to rely on cars. It makes my life as a grad student possible. But if it’s the fifth best in the world, I weep for humanity.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:50 am
If you live 3 miles from work… why don’t you just walk? Get in shape AND beat the system. 3 miles at a steady walking pace would only take about 35 minutes…
April 25th, 2008 at 3:51 am
for whoever said moscow up there, i almost agree - i vote st petersburg. theres a subway arrival at almost every 2 minutes there
April 25th, 2008 at 3:54 am
Where is San Fransisco on this list? They have one of the most modern, clean and effective subways in the world…
April 25th, 2008 at 3:55 am
I don’t think these should be known as the Best Mass Transit Systems in the World. Perhaps, you may want to change the title to Busiest Mass Transit Systems instead. If I were to acknowledge the title of this post, I would simply say there are several more other countries that can be comparable, e.g. Singapore, Germany, China, etc.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:56 am
I can attest HK is simply amazing in regards to mass transit. It however also benefits from having what I believe to be the newest subway system out of the cities on this list which perhaps gives it a slight advantage. Either way, we can only wish every metropolitan city had mass transit systems such as the ones offered in the 5 cities above.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:56 am
New York and Chicago over Tokyo? Are you flipping insane? Maybe Paris and London, but even those I’m skeptical of..
Kevin Burt, I agree with you as far as “Best in the World” but as for the USA, Chicago’s public transit is pretty impressive.
I wish we had anything remotely like it here in Pittsburgh. We have two train lines that serve a tiny sliver of the southern suburbs, if you dont happen to live within walking distance of those two lines out of the city - you’re SOL as far as trains go.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:57 am
I was impressed with the mass transit system in Tokyo, Japan, as it goes above and below ground.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:58 am
One major problem with Chicago’s mass transit is that it mainly runs on radials from the loop. As long as you are going to and from a point on the same radial, it is great. If you aren’t, there is a good chance that you will need to go to the loop to travel on the other radial to reach your destination. New York’s system is fair superior.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:00 am
NY has an extensive system but it’s decaying. For the most part it’s reliable but there always seem to be delays when you can least afford them. Problem is, driving takes even longer and since Manhattan is an island, you pay almost triple the subway fare at many bridges and tunnels to enter or leave. The whole system needs a facelift. One great thing about NYC though is that we also have the PATH train that links with New Jersey, which you can transfer to from certain subway stations. For a fee of course. Don’t know of another system that links states together.
I am surprised the BART system isn’t on the list, I’ve found it quite reliable and pretty thorough getting you around the Bay area, although it’s a bit pricey.
The tube in London is great when I visit there. Haven’t been on the other systems yet.
Hong Kong seems like it is the future of mass transit. The US should look at what they’re doing.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:04 am
What about Seoul and Tokyo?
April 25th, 2008 at 4:09 am
I’m agreeing with Kevin. Chicago (and any city with mass transit) gets an A for effort but no way is it one of the top five. Obviously, whoever made this list has never visited Tokyo. This list was made in a rush and without doing all the homework. Boooooo…
April 25th, 2008 at 4:11 am
i think the tokyo mass transit system deserves a place on this list. highly efficient, punctual, probably moves the most volume of passengers.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:26 am
All great systems listed here, but where is Tokyo?
The combined Tokyo subway and Japan Rail regional system is at least #2 on this list. (I haven’t been to Hong Kong.) Tokyo should certainly kick Chicago off the list, and is much more comprehensive than NYC.
That said, living in Atlanta makes me dream of living in a city where mass transit is taken seriously, and is an honest alternative to getting around.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:31 am
I’ve not been to Chicago or Paris, but I can confidently say that the inefficiency, stench, and overall degeneration of the London Tube and NY subway removes them from this list. If the criteria to be on this list was passenger traffic, then by all means keep them on (though you’re missing Tokyo then).
If you’re talking about a pleasant experience, with clear signs, absolute cleanliness, 3 minutes or less waiting times, and general safety, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Singapore can’t be beat.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:32 am
i’m mildly surprised that tokyo didn’t make the list, given that no one i know has a car and the trains will let you go about, anywhere in tokyo and to a lesser extent, japan.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:32 am
Washington DC?- it is probably the cleanest and one of the best in the states. The Chicago el is a horrible metro. London and NY are very dirty. Madrid is also better than London and NY. Rome should also be considered. You know very little about public transit.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:34 am
True, Hong Kong MTR is awesome. It’s like living in the future.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:37 am
You obviously have never experienced the pleasures of the Singapore mass rapid transit system. It’s awesome.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:39 am
Where the hell is Tokyo or at least the Shinkansen lines from Japan? I’ve ridden the trains in Chicago and while they were OK, the trains in Tokyo were extremely clean, pleasant, fast, and efficient. We were able to get all over the city with ease and I was amazed at how many people moved through the major stations every day. And riding the Shinkansen was the single most pleasant travel experience of my life.
I agree with Kevin. Kick Chicago off this list. It’s crap.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:39 am
I can tell you’ve never ridden mass transit in NY. It sucks. No American city has transit that can even come close to anything they have in Europe. It’s a sad, sad truth.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:39 am
Yes, Chicago shouldn’t even be considered for this list, let alone be on it. Yes, it’s expansive, but it’s truly horrid. I need to buy myself a bike, because the CTA is garbage.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:41 am
Clearly this author has no idea what hes talking about of he put the NY Transit system over BART.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:44 am
I think you are mistaken… Chicago sucks… NJ Transit is by far the best mass transit in the US. It connects NYC to Philadelphia and everything in between. Armpit of the future.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:44 am
uh, what about TOKYO?! Tokyo has the most extensive rail system of any city in the world. It makes Hong Kong look like one of those piddly little trains at an amusement park, and the trains are so rarely late that you get a stamped card from the station master in the event there IS a late train so you can prove to your boss it’s why you were late. This list is terrible.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:46 am
You completly left out Tokyo. The mass transit in Tokyo trumps all of them, I’m sure.
Not only do you have Japan Rail operating the above ground trains all over Tokyo metropolis area, but you have two different companies, Tokyo Metro and Toei, who operate the subway systems.
More people use Shinjuku station ALONE than most of the entier systems you’ve listed.
According to Wikipedia:
“…the station was used by an average of 3.52 million people per day in 2006, making it the busiest train station in the world in terms of number of passengers.”
Not only that, but the commuter trains are so reliable, that if they are more than 5 minutes behind, they issue you a ‘late pass’ to give to your boss/teacher.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:47 am
You live 3 miles from work and takes an hour on the CTA? You obviously are not doing something correctly.. I take a cta bus to the blue line, to the red line, to the yellow line. All under an hour, and much more then 3 miles. It doesnt count if you are walking 2 of the 3 miles ;)
April 25th, 2008 at 4:48 am
As much as I love my city, I have to agree with Kevin here. The amount of work that has been put into the El has been enormous. And what has shown for it? Very little. Chicago and the state has had a big problem trying to fix this system that is slow, old, and inefficient. Even so, come to Chicago, amazing place.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:49 am
What about Tokyo?
April 25th, 2008 at 4:49 am
Curitiba, Brazil should definitely be on this list. The city’s bus system is incredible.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:52 am
I can’t believe you left out Tokyo. It has to be the largest mass transit system in the world both in terms of reach and passenger volume. It is punctual, clean and while famously crowded can be relied on in a way the London tube never can. Although, it must be admitted, they don’t have the London driver’s banter.
Like the Hong Kong and London systems it uses a ‘touch and go’ style card you can also use at vending machines and stores. Peachy.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:54 am
What about the Taipei MRT? It’s a lot better than New York!
April 25th, 2008 at 4:57 am
the best mass transit system in the world is in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
It is not subsidized by the government. It will take a person from where they are to where they want to go at any time of the night or day. It does not waste fuel with half empty cars. It is the Cambo moto-dop system.
Thousands of young, and older, men stand around at every corner in the city with their motor bikes. When a person needs to go somewhere they simply get on the back of the nearest one and off they go. Very convenient. Very cheap. And I would say the safety record would probably compare favorably.
An added bonus, when not used for public transportation, the motor bikes are used for personal transportation and at 125 CC they are less polluting than the 6000 CC SUVs seen on the streets of western nations.
EuthanasiaClinic.com
April 25th, 2008 at 4:58 am
Chicago is great because you can get off an airplane, then get on the mass transit to downtown.
Los Angeles is one of the worst places that needs it. These idiots don’t even have mass transit right up to LAX. They had the chance to put in mass transit down the middle of new interstates, but heck no, they try to determine how to do it later. A bunch of idiots run Los Angeles and near by counties!!!
April 25th, 2008 at 5:00 am
where’s DC on this list?
April 25th, 2008 at 5:01 am
HAHAH…this is the biggest joke of a list of “top mass transit systems in the world” I’ve ever seen. New York? The MTA is dirty, erratic, loud as hell and almost always under construction. So many people use it because it cost a fortune to park in Manhattan and the traffic is terrible.
Hong Kong I will say is #1, but no mention of Tokyo? Beijing will be on this list by 2014.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:01 am
I live in Chicago and was shocked to see my city make this list as well. Riding the el is an adventure in rust, sparks, and incompetence. Every other subway system in the world that I’ve used has been superior.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:06 am
I can’t believe Tokyo isn’t on the list. After living there for three years I can safely say i was never more than 15 minutes from a train station and never waited more than a few minutes for a train. Actually, the one time I remember there being delays was directly after a strong earthquake.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:11 am
I’d have to say that you guys forgot ONE, and it would probably be the number one in shear volume of people moved considering the density of the city and surrounding areas is about 25 million people. The efficiency is also there where by they have the links to the entire greater tokyo area and main hubs strategicly located to move people around from and to the airport. Along with the bus and cab services offered. I’ve been to each on this list as well except Hong Kong, and none of the others even stand a chance compared to the pleasurable experience in Japan. They do however get cramped and shut down about midnite for maintenance but theyre back up and running by 5am.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:12 am
I have to agree with kevin’s assessment of the Chicago system. I don’t live there now, but I’ve used the system many times and it is almost always an uncomfortable and untimely experience. You should really consider replacing it with Madrid, Spain. Their system is probably the easiest in the world to understand, one of the cheapest in the world to ride, and EXTREMELY clean. Overall I agree with the rest though. Great post!
April 25th, 2008 at 5:12 am
I’d recommend the Tokyo system, but it took me almost two weeks to figure out that there are actually at least two Tokyo subway systems superimposed over each other. Once I figured that out, I began to make sense of the various different system maps I kept coming across, and once that was figured out, I realized that it s a pretty efficient system, and really the smartest way to get from one end of town to another. Extremely clean and safe, of course. And if you happen to leave your purse or wallet on the train, you can be pretty sure you’ll find it again in Tokyo’s Lost and Found.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:13 am
I would include Tokyo in the list. It’s advanced, heavily trafficked, and yet easy to use. A traveler who doesn’t know Japanese like myself can navigate easily.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:23 am
Kind of surprised that as a green pub you didn’t shout out to Curitiba Brazil. They did it on the cheap and use goats to graze the greenways
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/fellows/brazil1203/index.html
April 25th, 2008 at 5:28 am
Kevin I would have to agree with you. I also live in Chicago. I would have to put Mexico City in it’s place. It moves 3.8 million people per day. And their metro lines keep on expanding.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:30 am
What about Japan? I don’t know the exact specs but it looks like most of the population in Japan use the subway.
They’ve even got cell phones out that have a chip inside to make their cells a subway pass.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:31 am
Surely Singapore’s SMRT system has to be in the top 5 somewhere, if not number 2 behind Hong Kong. I think an evaluation of the best mass transit system should also taken into account reliability and safety (ie. crime) as well.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:32 am
The transit system in Paris is amazing as well. A well integrated system of busses, trains, subway, slidewalks etc. Getting around is fast and easy.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:34 am
I really must say that i think this list is missing one of the best transit systems out there if not the best, which would be located in Tokyo. This would not only be, because of the sheer size and volume it covers(since Tokyo is the largest metropolis in the world), but because of price, how efficient and on time it is and clean compared to most mass transit systems.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:36 am
Tokyo?
April 25th, 2008 at 5:40 am
What a joke…Chicago is on the list but not Tokyo? Get a grip.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:41 am
Got to say the London Underground sucks during line closures due to upgrades/maintenance. It’s too fricking crowded. I once had to wait for two trains to pass before there was enough room on the platform to even board. And the trains were overflowing. Much worse than Tokyo at rush hour, at least Tokyo’s stations are more expansive and newer so less maintenance.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:41 am
I remember when I was in Hong Kong, I saw the whole place without having to use anything but public transportation. The place is brilliantly managed overall. Its full of people and bustling with life, but its all managed so efficiently that using public transport isn’t a hassle at all.
Even though the central to mid-level escalators didn’t work out that well, it goes to show how much Hong Kong cares for public transport.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:42 am
Chicago — what a joke. Washington DC is far superior in the US. As for Russia — I have no clue.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:48 am
Tokyo wasn’t good enough to make it on the list, but Chicago was??
re: “One in every three mass transit users in the entire United States, uses the New York system”
Yeah, that’s because there are hardly any decent mass transit systems in the entire United States. We should be working on fixing that, instead of telling even MORE people to go to the handful of places that already have them.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:50 am
\
Walk? 3 Miles can’t possibly be that far, especially if it’s downtown. If you walk at a decent pace it’ll take you half the current time it takes you, plus you’ll get a 20-30 minute workout each way. Not to mention you can hit a few starbucks on the way.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:57 am
HK transit usage is really a symptom of geography. Such a small land mass area with islands. Most commutes are down with mass-transit simply because you do not need to drive far or really commute long distances. Many can live close to work and walk. Example: from the Mid-levels you can take the escalator down into Central where the offices are located. Otherwise you might take the Star Ferry across from Kowloon into Central or maybe jump on the subway.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:05 am
I second that. Chicago’s train tracks on most lines are constantly being fixed (although the crew look like they’re just chilling out whenever you see them), causing long delays and canceled services every day. On the weekends entire track sections routinely get closed down for repairs, so you have to hop on and off a bus in between, which more than doubles the time.
Chicago’s El system was originally well designed but CTA’s lazy and incompetent maintenance all but killed it.
Oh, and forget about biking to the stop and taking the train. New bikes get stolen in a matter of days - no security whatsoever.
I’ve been to Hong Kong and it’s way more pleasant and reliable.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:07 am
london???
are you kidding?the whole public transport of the greater london area is collapsing and they have no idea how to make it work for the olympics…
put san francisco on that list instead!
April 25th, 2008 at 6:07 am
The only problem with New York is that it operates $2 Billion over budget, it’s filthy, and labour unions have the city, and commuters, by the balls. Aside from that, it’s awesome.
London is very efficient and speedy, but with but with the tubes buried so deep underground, it can take a good 5 minutes to actually get to street level once you’ve reached your stop. Transfers are a nightmare and unless you work and live right outside a station stop, it’s better to take the bus.
Paris is designed never to require more than 1 transfer. That should be mentioned. Unfortunately, that ingenious trait makes the map looks like a handful of spaghetti, confusing many tourists, even New Yorkers.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:21 am
i recently rode on the Hong Kong transit system and it was beautiful. its on time as much as the Japanese subways, its clean, and its in English. and i remember that hallway pictured, its between two different subway lines and a very long walk.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:23 am
I also live in Chicago and can confirm that Chicago’s train system is no where near the same league as the rest of these other cities’. I’ve been on every one except for Paris. The key to the other cities being much better is that you can walk to a subway/train station almost anywhere in the city. In Chicago, only 11% of the population lives close enough to a train station.
And why didn’t Tokyo or Osaka, Japan make the list. Both their train systems are very walkable, on-time, and clean - on par with what you’d find in Hong Kong.
Additionally, in a few years, even Beijing’s train station will be much better than Chicago’s. Though the trains are often extremely crowded, they are very clean and fast. Consider that per capita income in Beijing is 10% of Chicagoans and you gotta wonder why the heck is our public transportation system so much worse.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:26 am
No Tokyo? Or Seoul?
You have to be kidding me.
Over 3.5 million people traverse Shinjuku station alone. Tokyo station and Shibuya station boasts numbers similar to Shinjuku.
I wouldnt be surprised to learn that 90% people in Tokyo do not own cars.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:29 am
@ kevin: 3 miles from work and an hour each way? you must be retarded…I live 15+ miles from the city and it never takes more than an hour for me and thats 12 miles more than you…I’d be really concerned about your ability to gauge time and less on some perceived ineptitude on the cta’s part if i were you
April 25th, 2008 at 6:32 am
what about Tokyo? or Osaka? Clearly this list must be the 5 best that the author has ridden on
April 25th, 2008 at 6:36 am
As I went down the list, I started to wonder where Hong Kong was. I have to say, that is the best transit system I’ve ever used (and continue to use).
Chicago…. seriousiy… have the authors actually ridden the public transit in Chicago, on an extensive basis? It is @#$ing terrible.
Statistics aren’t everything, my dear friends.
Hong Kong not only has great stats but is really fast, easy to use, well-documented, multi-lingual, clean, and cheap. I am so glad it’s number 1 on this list.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:36 am
I want to know how no Japanese cities are on this list. They have the most timely public transportation system on Earth.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:38 am
HA! I live in chicago and I must say that the CTA isn’t bad, but I will tell you it does have its shortcomings (An emergency not properly handled and a derailing just last week). Oh and the bureaucracy surrounding its operation is just as corrupt as the rest of Illinois’ politics. Better than nothing though and mostly reliable.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:38 am
Tokyo, Japan is not on the list? Seriously? I think you might need to re-check those facts.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:38 am
you seem to have overlooked tokyo.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:53 am
I would put the TTC above the Chicago system any day of the week, and that isn’t saying very much.
April 25th, 2008 at 6:59 am
mmm… berlin? I’d think about it.
April 25th, 2008 at 7:15 am
^ get a bike, youll get there in 15 minutes
April 25th, 2008 at 7:27 am
also in london there is this thing called an oyster card, which is comparable to the octopus in hong kong
April 25th, 2008 at 7:59 am
I think best Subway in St.Petersburg,Russia anyway it better than Paris or Chicago
April 25th, 2008 at 8:44 am
I have been on the top three: Hong Kong, London and New York. The top three is spot on. I currently live in Singapore and I think Singapore should be 4 or 5. If for nothing else than for being the cleanest and best maintained system around. Oh yes.. average daily traffic is over 1.5million.
Also, what happened to Tokyo?
April 25th, 2008 at 8:50 am
I’ve been on only a few of those on your list, but I must agree with the Chicago comment.
April 25th, 2008 at 9:07 am
The BIGGEST and BEST public transit system in the world is in Tokyo. Bar none. Get your facts straight and expand your horizons.
April 25th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Living close to London I can agree about the ‘not particularly pleasant’ comment! I regularly travel to Hong Kong and can say that their system is absolutely outstanding. Never been delayed and announcements are made on matrix displays and audio in 3 languages. In addition to the MTR in HK it also has the KCR surface train taking you up into the New Territories and to the Chinese border. Oh, and Octopus kicks ass! Every city commuter system should use something similar. London’s Oyster card is a pale shadow of Octopus.
April 25th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Chicago? New York???
You are joking!!?
April 25th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Don’t forget The entire country of Japan. They have one of the best mass transit systems that I have ever seen.
April 25th, 2008 at 9:45 am
The unique metro stations of the Montreal transit system I thought would make it a top 5 for sure. Couple that with an integration of the suburbs to the main one that I’ve found is next to none, makes this one a winner. Come to Montreal and see what i mean!
April 25th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Did you think about Singapore? Taipei? and Many of the other European cities all equipped with metro systems? Many of those are more efficient than our systems at new york and chicago (say for example an approximation of when the next train will arrive). And don’t forget the behemoth known as Moscow…which has built the largest and busiest metro system because the idea of mass public transport was so romantic to the utilitarian communists in command at the time. And Tokyo too!
April 25th, 2008 at 10:06 am
I’ve lived in Hong Kong, and Tokyo. There is no comparison, no matter how you define “Best Mass Transit Systems”, Tokyo is by far the best.
April 25th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Well, I would like to add one more Mass Transport System to the list.
I am talking about the great Mumbai Suburban Railways.
For all the Americans, who dont know where Mumbai is, its on the western coast of India and one of the largest cities in Asis.
Comming back to the rail system. The system carries more than 6.1 million commuters on a daily basis and constitutes more than half of the total daily passenger capacity of the Indian Railways itself. It has the highest passenger density of any urban railway system in the world.
6.1 mil, thats more than New York, not to mention that it has the largest rail network in the world and the oldest in Asia. Sadly not the most hightech and the comfort levels and probably one of the worst. But is also the cheapest. An its also not the safest due to the large volume of people. But surely you wont get mugged at gunpoint like on some of the other transport systems mentioned above.
And above all, the Indina Railways is the world’s largest commercial or utility employer, with more than 1.6 million employees.
April 25th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Having travelled on NY, London, and Paris. I would say that Tokyo beats at least those three. Now that they have passmo (same as octopus in Hong Kong) the problems of different companies have disappeared. Also I think Singapore takes some beating too.
April 25th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Having been on holiday last year to Hong Kong I can say that the mass transit there is the best in the world. Its reliable, cheap and easy to get around. All other cities should be copying this model.
April 25th, 2008 at 10:49 am
This is a bit of a farce. I mean, not include Tokyo? HKG’s entire system could fit in one of Tokyo’s 23 buroughs…
April 25th, 2008 at 11:08 am
I come from Chicago and have been on all the above, BUT!!!
I now live in Singapore AND IT’S the best!
Cheers1
April 25th, 2008 at 11:18 am
having been to hong kong and utilized their mass transite system, i can say first hand it’s pretty incredible, especially when you’re used to the cramped and smelly environment of the london tube. Hong Kong have it nailed basically, everyone should copy what they do, it’s easy, efficient and cheap, unlike the london tube, which is difficult, run badly and very expensive.
April 25th, 2008 at 11:24 am
singapore’s mrt system is really good too.
April 25th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Any list of the best mass transit systems in the world that doesn’t include Tokyo, Japan (or all of Japan for that matter) is just flat out incorrect.
April 25th, 2008 at 11:31 am
you forgot tokyo. flawless ontime rail transport to anywhere (you can even pay via your cell phone). its incredible here.
April 25th, 2008 at 11:55 am
This is ridiculous! NY and Chicago? You’ve got to be kidding. The NY Subway feels like a rat-infested cellar. More seriously, it’s integrated very badly with the rest of the NY transit system. I mean, it’s OK by US standards, but looks scummy and pathetic compared to London, Berlin, Moscow, Munich and even (dare I say it?) Rome!
I also definitely would have included Curitiba, Brazil - not because it’s huge, but because it’s well-engineered.
April 25th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Any mass transit wrap-up that doesn’t include the Tokyo underground is shootin’ blanks if you ask me. In fact I’d go as far as to say that the H.K. system is largely based on Tokyo’s system…
April 25th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
yea, but is that 90 percent of the population?, i live in Hong Kong and the MTR here is great, it links everything together, the platforms have sliding doors for safety and is airconditioned
The octopus card here can be used for the MTR, buses, mc donalds, 7′eleven….etc. It’s so popular that the UK is using a card called the oyster card
April 25th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Lived in Tokyo for six years and nearly spat out my coffee when I saw the writer considered london and paris to have better mass transit than Tokyo. Hong Kong’s system is impeccable, but Tokyo’s is on a whole other scale.
April 25th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
FYI London USES something like the Hong Kong metro does.
It’s called an OYSTER card and can be a standalone card or a Barclaycard Oyster, where the card works in shops and restaurants for up to 15 pounds (by touch). It serves also as a normal credit/debit with a chip & pin.
You forgot to mention that the UK’s Tube is the most expensive int he world. A weekly travelcard (on oyster)costs 44 GBP for zones 1-6 and 65GBP for 1-9. A single cash journey costs 8 DOLLARS !!!
April 25th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Chicago & New York?
Dude, have you ever left the USA?
You need to learn the alphabet.
JR.
Japan Railway.
Misinformation Blog.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
I was hoping to see Berlin on the top of the list, was a big disappointment not to see it, but seems like the author of the list has only been on one or two of the cities anyway.
April 25th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Okay. This just made me laugh.
Background: I’m Singaporean, studied at the University of Chicago and working in Hong Kong now. I visit New York often (because my gf is there) and Chicago has to be the fucking WORSE public transport system in the world.
Paris was nice: The RER was pretty good, but I rank Vienna/Frankfurt/Berlin much higher than Paris.
No Tokyo/Singapore/Vienna/Frankfurt? You must be kidding me. These places outrank Chicago by a mile. Paris works ok, when you don’t have the French going on a strike.
My top 5 would be:
5) Frankfurt
4) Singapore
3) Tokyo
2) New York - just for sheer convenience
1) Hong Kong
April 25th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Hong Kong is by far the best. I’ve been to Tokyo and even though they do serve more people the quality and of the public transportation means are better. As for Singapore I agree they have a really good system… It’s just that some stations are old =P
April 25th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Don’t you mean biggest?? What about smaller systems that use great inovations to solve mass transit issues. Adelaide, my home town, uses buses, trains, trams and o-bahn( buses on concrete tracks) to satisfy it’s needs. Go Adelaide!!
April 25th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
No mention of Tokyo? Fail.
NY’s system doesn’t hold a candle to Tokyo. Trains are always on time. You can check schedules for EVERY train on your mobile and they arrive at the exact planned minute. You pay more (fares are based on distance) but it’s worth it. It’s also one of the few systems in the world with competition…multiple public and private enterprises running an insane variety of transit lines.
Tokyo’s system just flat-out works…fares continue to increase in NY for a system that is always late, slow and just as crowded.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
New York should not be on that list. Even DC Metro is better because it’s clean and simple. Moscow metro should be #1 because it’s efficient, beautiful and works for 7 million people.
April 25th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
I would have to say you need to include Sydney, Australia. I’m not from there, but when I visited the city, I was absolutely blown away with how efficiently it ran even though it had to coordinate a subway system, bus system, AND a fairy system.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Chicago? haha! That’s funny. The L is falling apart, loud, slow, doesn’t cover large swaths of the city, covers almost zero suburbs, and only slightly better than driving.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I’d like to put in …
1. another vote for Tokyo
2. another vote for Singapore
3. another negative vote for Chicago
This isn’t the first Top 5 list to be put on the web. And this won’t be the first time commenters disagreed and proposed changes in the list. But this list is unique in that everyone is agreeing on adding and removing the same items!
what in the world was the author of this article thinking?
April 25th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Any list of public trans systems that has an american system anywhere near the top five is a joke. Please leave the country first before writing this type of rubbish.
April 25th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
New York *works* but isn’t one of the best. There’s no way. I’ve ditched taking the subway (and often the bus) to opt for walking. I often walk much faster than the bus.
Taipei should definitely be on the list. AND Tokyo!! I prefer how Tokyo’s system is run, but the ticketing system is still a little primitive. Everyone should opt for the cards that Taipei and HK use!!
April 25th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I visited Barcelona and was very impressed by their system . Clean, efficient and cheap and covers a very large area considering the size of the city.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona_Metro
Make sure you put Toronto in your “worst” category.
April 25th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
In my opinion none of the United States’ public transit systems deserve to be on this list, not at least at the top five. My experience with Euro and Asian systems far surpass anything we have.
April 25th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Absolutely agree. Like you, I’ve been on all listed except Hong Kong. I’ve also be on Tokyo’s and Berlin’s, and both of those put Chicago’s to absolute shame. Seoul probably would, too, but I’ve not been on it.
In my humble opinion, Tokyo’s wins hands-down. For the record I live about 2 hrs outside Chicago and travel there frequently.
April 25th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
I have to say Chicago does not belong on the list, while Moscow should. Also, Seoul should be there too, while Novosibirsk and Pyongyang should be considered for a revised list.
April 25th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I have lived in both France and Singapore, and while the Paris Metro is quite capable, I can definitely say that Singapore has a better transit system. Clean, easy, and efficient. It should not only be on this list, but be high on this list.
April 25th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Actually the most used mass transit system is the one from Moscow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_systems_by_annual_passenger_rides
I would say the skytrain from Vancouver is great, completely automated, constant service…but very expensive.
April 25th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
i must be pretty spoiled if i’ve been on 4 out of 5 of those and use the nyc one daily.
April 25th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Agreed. Sure Tokyo’s mass transit can be overcrowded, but its reliability, efficiency and cleanliness leave me longing for my Japan days whenever I descend into New York’s dirty, smelly subways with terrible customer service and relatively frequent interruptions. New York could learn plenty from Tokyo’s system.
April 26th, 2008 at 12:20 am
You didn’t even include Tokyo? Fail. Best mass transit in the world hands-down.
April 26th, 2008 at 1:00 am
have you been to chicago? most people i know have bicycles to avoid the delays and frustrations, and a large portion of it is barely available after 5pm.
both berlin and tokyo are far, far superior systems.
April 26th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Erm, to be honest, Singapore’s MRT is not so great. Its overly crowded during peak periods. Waiting time during peak period is 3mins and you’ll be lucky if you get to board the train otherwise you would have to wait for the next one which by then would be crowded as well. You can also forget about getting a seat during that time, so be prepared to stand/squeeze for 45-60mins of 1 way journey 6 times a week.
Off peak waiting time is between 6-8mins and again, you’ll be lucky to get a seat if you’re boarding from those stations away from the end of the lines.
No doubt its clean but they can do better by having more frequent trains.
I have been on trains in Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt and i’ll say they are much much better in terms of timing and efficiency (the trains and buses in Hamburg have specific time tables and they almost always arrive on the dot and the connection is very smooth from buses to trains, trains to trains and vice versa so its impossible to be late if you have planned your journey properly and checked the timetables online). Best of all, I don’t have to stand throughout my journey.
April 26th, 2008 at 6:47 am
I would say maybe tokyo should be added on the list but that’s just my opinion.
April 26th, 2008 at 8:33 am
What’s with the West- and new-West-centrism in this article? I live in Budapest and have used every public transportation system listed (except for Hong-Kong), and Budapest’s system beats them all.
Let’s not forget about the non-Western world in these rankings as well - long live Budapest public transport!
April 27th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Can I have the contact details of the author please
April 27th, 2008 at 2:49 am
WTF! Why the hell isn’t Washington DC on this list? It’s the cleanest and one of the only true tunneled systems in the United States.
It’s also the second busiest subway in the United States > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_rapid_transit_systems_by_ridership
DC also has MARC, VRE (commuter trains), rapid bus (dedicated lanes) and soon a street car system.
April 27th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
This has been said before, but I grew up in Chicago and now live in the DC area. The DC system is leaps and bounds beyond Chicago’s, no questions asked.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:49 am
I agree that Tokyo has the BEST transit system in the world. Osaka, also in Japan, has a pretty good system too. The towns of Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara and their suburbs make a giant aglomeration with a total population of 25 millions. The JR West smartcard (Icoca)used in the Greater Osaka region (see above)can also be used in Hiroshima, Okayama, Nagoya and Tokyo. JR East smartcard (Suica) can also be used in Osaka etc. All these smartcards are used on trains, subways (and soon on buses) and can also be used to shop. Some Cell phones also use the same smartcard chip and can be used for paying transit fares and to shop. Paris, London and many other Eurotowns (Milan for example) are also using smartcards.
April 28th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
‘Best’ is not necessarily defined by the number of people who pass through it everyday, or the cleanliness of the platforms, compartments and the like, it also depends on the accessibility and ease of navigation. Those who think the Tokyo metro system is the best in the world (given you are not a local) may want to consider how long it takes to get used to navigating all those interchanging stations and lines. Being born and bred in a metro-friendly environment, it took me a few days to get my directions in place. It sure is convenient once you get your head around it, but if you’re a tourist, it can really do your head in.
That said, navigating around a well instructed labyrinth is a much better experience than, say, coping with the stench of urine, grotty compartments and (worst of all) unreliable trains. I’d put my vote in for any of the Japanese mass transit systems to be one of the best, but personally the best would have to be Hong Kong: clean, efficient, easy to navigate, and cheap (relative to its efficiency).
April 29th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Hong Kong is definitely number 1 in terms of Mass Transit System, but Singapore is not far behind. I think the MRT of Singapore should also be on this list. Have you heard of the latest plans for their MRT? An MRT Station within every few hundred meters of each house/building/area.
And of course, there’s also Japan’s high tech transportation system.
April 30th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
heya nice compilation… but how about Japan, Seoul… and even Singapore’s?
April 30th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I am proud to say I have used each of the Top Five Transit Systems in the world. To me Paris is still No. 1 because of its sheer size and coverage of the city. Hong Kong is the newest but it’s always so crowded and the coverage is not to Paris’ level….of never more than 10 minutes away from a Paris Metro stop. London’s Underground is very old and shows its age. Chicago is noisy and most of the stations show their age. New York’s subway is improving but seems a bit more dangerous to use. I have never felt apprehensive to ride the transit systems in London, Paris or Hong Kong.
April 30th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
The CTA in Chicago you reference is just one of 3 public transit entities. The one that goes out to South Bend is the South Shore Service and then there is Metra, which offers heavy rail commuter service and services Chicago and northern Illinios, the area of the size of connecticut.
May 1st, 2008 at 3:42 am
Get your facts straight. The Blue line’s not closing. Its being rebuilt in sections -as are segments of the rest of the system. 1/3rd of it was rebuilt a few years ago (and renamed the Pink Lne). Perhaps that’s what’s confusing you. As for construction, Updating a 100 year old system doesnt sound like a bad idea to me.
Buses are being updated as well.
Coverage of the train system is incomplete and diminishing, as the CTA is soon to be closing one half of the Blue Line for good. Customers are forced to rely on buses, which on the South Side are 25+ years old and running down quickly. Bus bunching and therefore long waits are the norm, not the exception. Drivers frequently take long breaks and don’t give a rat’s patoot about keeping schedules, or picking up riders. Prices have increased but service has not improved. Routes which have hundreds of waiting riders per hour are ignored, while 3 empty buses for another route whiz by.
Look, it’s better than having nothing and therefore having to rely on cars. It makes my life as a grad student possible. But if it’s the fifth best in the world, I weep for humanity.
P>
May 1st, 2008 at 6:20 am
Portland has an excellent system.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Obviously this is not a scientific study. It would be interesting to see such a study ranking the top 100 systems in the world. NYC and Chicago would probably be at the bottom.
I’m surprised to find only one brief comment about Mexico City’s. It’s one of the best, and only costs the equivalent of a U.S. quarter.
And yes, Moscow should be in the top five. Stalin did at least one thing right.
May 1st, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Chicago! I work for a Northeastern transit agency, and Chicago is going down the tubes. Lack of investment by state and locals, delays, breakdowns, safety issues. How does this make the list. Also there should be either Tokyo or a Japanese city on this list. Have a high transit share, good systems. I think the environmentalists in charge of this web site confirm my view that most environementalists (I count myself as one) don’t really understand transit but think they do. I think this should have been split into two parts, best in terms of serving people and second part how its operated
May 1st, 2008 at 9:16 pm
New Yorkers usually wouldn’t care whether they make a “Top 5″ list or not, so I’ll defer to those here insisting it be “at the bottom” or it’s “smelly” or so forth. Criticism like that has been defined by Loudon Wainwright III’s “Talkin’ Big Apple Blues,” in which he notes: “‘Course, half of those people have never been there, so some of that criticism just ain’t fair.”
Folks here are quite correct to sing the glories of Tokyo or the elegance of Moscow. But few places find transit more indispensable than New York. Thirty years ago, a friend of mine sneered that “New York was a dinosaur too stupid to know it should die.” Thirty years later, the dinosaur doesn’t just live; T-Rex roars. The subways, the rails, the ferries — transit is one big reason why
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:15 am
I was quite a bit surprised at the transit agencies — or, I believe, more properly, the cities — on it. Several people have already expressed displeasure with one or more of the cities on your list and/or proposed others that they believe superior.
What I’m looking for is, what were your criteria (criterion?). I assume that there was some methodology, perhaps even including some numerical ones? Was there an evaluation methodology of some type — even a survey?
Best on what? Percentage of travel on transit? (Think many of the Eastern Asian systems.) Best accessibility to as many destinations from as many origins as possible (This is an interesting one, as many of the systems you mention would not rate very highly in suburb-to-suburb commutes, but, for example, some South American and other places not mentioned do VERY well — such as Curitiba, which was mentioned above.) How about best value for the taxpayers? (Again, Hong Kong and Tokoyo will do very well on this one, as will places like Curitiba, which have little or even NO taxpayer support.)
Before you say, “these are the five best,” you really need to explain five best WHAT and how the ranking is performed.
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I think we are mostly on the same page. I have ridden many subways, streetcars, and buses. If you people in Chicago want to be humbled try getting to work in Los Angeles. The transit here stinks and is ugly, polluting, and everything lists it as the best (number one, mind you) in America. Not so. I have tried to contact whomever ranks these Metros to no avail. Even for America (and we don’t know public transit like we should) it should be closer to Seattle for poor quality or non-existence. It could be improved with the right management but try to get the bums out. They are stuck like glue to their offices. I say make them ride the MTA and then tell us they won awards for being the best. I use my bike to the bus, to the train, to another bus to get 23 miles to work (the closest place I could afford to live without getting shot). The subway actually works but the Orange Line (a bus) is a sham. I am going back to driving.
May 13th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
I agree with many of the above posters; your criteria is not listed, but you seem to use an amalgam of metrics including (for lack of a better word) “modernness” and ridership. Chicago is the probably the choice that stands out the most–the system is definitely not modern, is only ranked three in ridership in the U.S. (after DC’s METRO) and is not even in the top 20 worldwide and you conflate the CTA and Metra (their commuter rail system). Tokyo, the busiest subway in the world and also fairly modern, should be on this list. If you had to choose another U.S. system, it would be DC’s METRO.
May 16th, 2008 at 12:15 am
Please visit my website about mass transit in Detroit, Michigan at http://savethefueltax.org
Please learn why it is time to get the government out of the mass transit industry in Detroit, Michigan.
May 17th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Ken’s comment about CTA is spot, its a redial. To get anyone that isn’t on your neighborhood line you have to go to the loop and then all the way back out. Other comments about the system degradation, poor management, and constant delays are correct as well. I would also not convenient for cyclists; your supposed to be able to bring your bike on Metra but conductors often refuse. And no bikes during rush hour. No hooks to store bikes, etc. As for the system travelling far, while true it doesn’t travel often. I can’t take Metra to where I work in the burbs because it only stops twice a day at the local station. I would love to take Mass Transit and my bike to work; its just not an option. NYC is better by far. In fact I’d say Portland Ore, has better transit than Chicago. Clean, free downtown, modern; you know designed for people to enjoy and hence want to use
June 4th, 2008 at 8:40 am
The London mass transit system is AMAZING! Makes Canadian mass transit systems (ie. Toronto, Montreal) look PATHETIC!!!!
June 12th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Just about any system in Japan is better than anything in our country. I lived in Japan for two years and got anywhere I wanted. Even out in the middle of nowhere you can get around.
If a train is late in Japan then someone jumped in front of it. And no I’m not kidding.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
i guess nobody here has ever been to taipei.
June 15th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
In my book the top rail system is in SWITZERLAND. In fact, not only the rail, but the buses & boat systems are all timed to work together. Not only can you travel in Switzerland, but trains from GERMANY & FRANCE, probably ITALY too travel in & out of SWIZERLAND.
My Swiss mother in law is over 70 yrs old. She travels with her friends to neigboring Countries via TRAIN. Now that says something!
Totally clean, safe, ON TIME, and there are mini malls underground with everything you need. Grocery stores, banks, restaurants, retail. We traveled the Country & stayed for a month & never had a car. You can go anywhere!!!
I have been to Japan too & it also has an awesome system with the similar concept!
The US need to look to other Countries & take some major notes!
June 20th, 2008 at 2:46 am
Unbelievable. Flat out, the worst transit system in the USA has to be El Paso TX. Don’t get me wrong, there is a fairly efficient bus system, but no light rail. I’ve been pushing ABOVE GROUND light rail here for almost twenty years, but the local admins thank me and trash the maps/plans I have put together. In fact, more roadway is being built! So I’ve decided to put my name in to become the next Mayor of this “Hidden Gem of the World”, and one of my strongest planks is to create one of the finest mass transit systems on planet Earth. There are two great systems sadly missing from the list: Copenhagen, Denmark, and Melbourne, Australia(which is THE role model) I agree with other reader comments. Oh, I won’t get elected-few people in the El Paso are willing to give up the personal motor vehicle!
July 10th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Hong Kong is by far the best system in the world. The one in Tokyo is not bad either but the Tokyo one is old and dirty and some trains are really slow. I have used both systems.
The Hong Kong MTR is all clean, fast and during rush hour you got a train every one minute!!! Mostly underground and your cell phone is still working. They have shopping malls with almost every stations underground or above ground. Did I mention it is clean and fast and efficient?
December 28th, 2008 at 7:32 am
I have been on the Munich transit, and I think it’s awesome.They have very nice subway and train system from the airport.For city of that size they have super big subway.I was amazed, how quiet it was the ride, and how well behaved the people were.Everything in the stations and on the train was so neat and in place. Europe has superb transit, they invest a lot of money in it, and they cherish their trains.I could go by train anywhere, any country, any city in EU.
I live in Toronto, and the transit here is very poor.The city is huge in size, and there are less than 70 subway stations.Most of it is covered by buses or streetcars which is extremely slow.The stations are fallig apart, winter time water leaks from the ceiling at almost every station, garbage on the tracks, the floor has never been cleaned.It’s just getting worse every year, and TTC is always underfunded.Although the City of Toronto has a budget of ~$8 bilion, it can not find any money to improve the transit, so that is why majority of people drive to work.
January 8th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Global warming is a political fad, but the convenience of subway and light rail cannot be denied. Even I, a car-lover, would rather share a train with 1,000 commuters for 30 minutes instead of fighting traffic and parking for an hour. Buses in most cities are so undesirable due to the waits, transfers, etc. out in the weather. Either the new depression will make such public transit a necessity, or government subsidy to employers will pay for the majority of ridership. Until then, the free thinkers will still prefer their cars, especially those who preach enviromentalism while driving SUVs or flying in jets.
January 26th, 2009 at 5:14 am
Mass transit service must be a viable and reliable alternative to private motor vehicles; no less is acceptable in an environmentally responsible society.
However, the service provided in Canada’s capital can only discourage people from seeing mass transit as such an alternative. If one is to take transit seriously, then service interruptions due to labour disputes are not an option. OC Transpo drivers should be grateful they have a job at all, never mind bickering over the benefits of the most highly-paid transit jobs in the nation (ATU.org, 2009)! Two words: Essential service.
If driver unions retain the right to strike, then transit services have no grounds upon which to assert their viability as an alternative to private motor vehicles. Personally, I will never again count on the bus, but rather I’m buying a new car as soon as I can!
January 27th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Chicago???? HA!
Where is greater tokyo… Without a doubt the best you would agree if you experienced its greatness
March 24th, 2009 at 5:31 am
This list is RIDICULOUS!!! The best in the U.S. is Metro in Washington DC without a doubt, by far the safest, cleanest, and second biggest in the U.S. The info on this list is completely wrong. Chicago’s El doesn’t move but a fraction of the numbers given on this list and it is one of the world’s WORST transit systems.
May 18th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Having lived in NY and Chicago, I have to agree with others - there is no way Chicago belongs here. I think some of the horror stories people are recounting are extreme examples, but delays on the ‘L’ are frequent and the ’slow zones’ are INSANE. The Metra is OK as commuter lines go, but it runs infrequently off-hours. And many parts of the city do not have access to rapid transit. Chicago’s system is very good by American standards, operative phrase here being “by American standards.” Internationally, it kinda sucks.
Even New York is kinda iffy for the top five. I won’t quibble with that one too much, but I definitely do not think it’s number two.
May 21st, 2009 at 2:21 am
Moscow? Tokyo? Seoul? Madrid? The “el” in Chicago is more like a transit museum than a transit system. Hong Kong only has one or two subway lines. This article is a piece of crap.
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Miami is the best by far. My hometown Minneapolis has the best bussing system Ive ever seen.
Minneapolis should have a people mover too! Just a loop from IDS to Capella to 225 South, and the Foshay Tower. The BART is excellent to. Does anyone know why they tore down the M-Bahn, By the Way. (I think monorails are the best system of transport in cities).