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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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