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The ‘world’s best’ cities for public transit, according to Time Out
Europe and Asia dominate a new list of the world’s best cities for public transit.
Time Out, the publisher of global city guides, polled 20,000 people in 50 cities to find out how they feel about their local mass transit systems. The top ten – out of 19 total cities listed – is entirely comprised of destinations in Asia and Europe, with Berlin landing in the number one spot.
The highest entry from North America is New York City at number 15, and no other continents are represented – better luck next year, Buenos Aires, Doha and Melbourne.
While only residents were surveyed, this list is also useful for travelers as they decide where to go next and how best to get around.
What makes for great transit?
Public transit is a broad term that includes subways, above-ground trains, buses, trams and even ferries.
To make it onto Time Out’s list, at least 80% of polled residents had to agree that it’s easy to get around their city via mass transportation.
According to Time Out’s data, a whopping 97% of Berliners had positive things to say about their city’s mass transit infrastructure, praising the network for being reliable, comfortable and safe.
But there are other factors to consider when traveling by train or bus – namely, aesthetics.
Stockholm, in seventh place, was one of the cities praised for its beautiful subway stations. Many of its Tunnelbana stations feature colorful and dramatic designs, earning it the nickname “the world’s longest art exhibit.”
It’s not only the stations themselves that are known for good looks.
Hong Kong’s famous above-ground trains, known locally as “ding dings” for the sound they make, even have their own Pantone color, “HK Tram Green.” These days, the trams appear in a range of colors and designs, but the iconic color dates from the post-World War II era, when the British military had a surplus of green paint.
Asian standouts
Seven of the top 19 cities hailed for their mass transit systems are in Asia.
Most are in east Asia, with Singapore, Shanghai, and Taipei all picking up accolades, but Mumbai squeaked in at 19th place.
The Indian megacity recently introduced Chalo Pay, a new app that makes it easier to book and pay for transit tickets without needing to carry cash.
But it was Tokyo, in third place, that had the highest showing for the continent.
The city’s mass transit was applauded for being well-maintained, efficient and easy to navigate, even for non-Japanese speakers.
European stars
Six of the top 19 cities were in Europe, with an additional two – London and Edinburgh – in the UK.
Several of these cities won praise for having one unified payment system to cover a variety of forms of transit.
In Copenhagen, a regular commute can include water taxis that whisk travelers across the harbor, while 10-place Amsterdam makes it seamless to transfer between buses, trains and trams.
Perhaps it’s not a coincidence that both of these cities also appear on CNN’s list of the world’s best cities for exploring by bicycle.
Sustainability initiatives in the European Union mean that many metropolitan areas offer incentives to reduce car traffic. Whether you travel by tram, train or bicycle, it’s a way to visit major tourist attractions while reducing your carbon footprint.
The world’s best cities for public transit
1. Berlin, Germany
2. Prague, Czech Republic
3. Tokyo, Japan
4. Copenhagen, Denmark
5. Stockholm, Sweden
6. Singapore
7. Hong Kong
8. Taipei, Taiwan
9. Shanghai, China
10. Amsterdam, Netherlands
11. London, UK
12. Madrid, Spain
13. Edinburgh, UK
14. Paris, France
15. New York City, US
16. Montreal, Canada
17. Chicago, US
18. Beijing, China
19. Mumbai, India
注释：
whop: v
表示" 痛击；击败"，means "hit hard"，如：She whopped him with her handbag. 她用手提包痛击他。
aesthetics: n
表示"美学；审美学"，如：The Violence Aesthetics has its special time background. 暴力美学的产生有其特殊的时代背景。
Pantone: n
表示"标准色卡"，如：One Pantone color may be found on a stunning dress at a New York fashion show. 在一次纽约时装展上的一件华丽的服装上你可能会找到彩通色。
surplus: n
表示"顺差；盈余"，means "more than is needed or used"，如：Mexico has a large surplus of oil. 墨西哥有大量过剩的石油。
accolade: n
表示" 表扬；嘉奖；"，means "a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction"，如：His new book received accolade from the papers. 他的新书受到报纸的热烈赞扬。
squeak: v
表示"吱吱叫；侥幸通过；"，means "make a high-pitched, screeching noise"，如：Can you hear the mice squeaking? 你听到老鼠吱吱叫吗?
megacity: n
表示" （人口超过1000万的）大城市"，如：But this megacity has a heart for its commuters! 但这个大都市却把这些乘车族放在心里！
unify: v
表示" 使统一、使成为一体"，means "make (parts) into one (whole)"，如：England and Scotland do not have a unified legal system. 英格兰和苏格兰法制不统一.
seamless: adj
表示"无缝的"，means ""，如：But the transition is seldom seamless.但是这种转变总是很难持续。
中文简要说明：
说到大众运输的优异表现，台北值得自豪！英国文化杂志《Time Out》发布最新调查结果，全球50座城市的公运系统有19座表现出色，柏林夺冠，东京名列第3为亚洲最佳，香港第7名，上海第九名。
据美国有线电视新闻网（CNN）报导，《Time Out》杂志以出版全球城市指南闻名，本次对世界50座城市居民共2万人调查各自公运系统的观感好坏。前10名由亚洲与欧洲城市包办，19座最佳城市依序为：德国柏林、捷克布拉格、日本东京、丹麦哥本哈根、瑞典斯德哥尔摩、新加坡、香港、台北、中国上海、荷兰阿姆斯特丹、英国伦敦、西班牙马德里、英国爱丁堡、法国巴黎、美国纽约、加拿大蒙特娄、美国芝加哥、中国北京、印度孟买。
大众交通包括地铁、铁路运输、巴士、轻轨电车与渡轮，本次调查必须至少80%受访居民认为搭乘大众运输系统移动轻松便利，才符合入选门槛。柏林居民满意比例高达97%，公认当地大众运输系统可靠舒适又安全。
美学也是得分要项之一。斯德哥尔摩地铁系统以此响誉国际，站体建筑设计活泼，用色多彩，博得「世界最长艺展」称号。
19个上榜城市有7个位于亚洲，多数位于东亚，例如新加坡、上海、台北，名次最高的是东京，大众运输路线复杂但管理良好，运行效率高，日语不通的人士也能轻松使用。挤上第19名的孟买最近终于推出Chalo Pay，这个新的App让用户在线订票付款，无须带现金乘车。
香港地上电车以叮叮响的声音出名，又称「叮叮车」，著名的美国彩通（Pantone）甚至在2021年推出专属色号「香港电车绿」（HK Tram Green）。这个色调可溯及二次大战过后，当时英军以剩余的绿色油漆替电车上色，后来车身陆续出现多种其他颜色与设计。
欧洲大城有9处入榜，英国独占2席。这些城市多半均以单一支付系统涵盖多种公共交通工具而广受赞扬。阿姆斯特丹的支付系统纳入公交车、火车与地上电车；哥本哈根市民常用的公共交通工具还包括水上出租车，观光客也能以此便利往来各个港市。这两座城市此前均入选CNN最适合骑单车探索的城市。
欧盟倡议永续发展的领域之一就是大型都会要鼓励大众减少自行驾车的频率。无论是搭乘电车、火车或骑单车，到访观光景点的同时也可减少碳足迹。
本次获选城市分别位于全球七大洲的亚洲、欧洲、北美洲，其余的大陆并无城市入榜，里斯本、布宜诺斯艾利斯、多哈、墨尔本等地来年或可有机会进榜。调查对象虽是在地居民，对于外来游客也很实用，在选择出国旅游目的地时有举足轻重的分量。
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