Most modern American streetcars have a bad rap, if you can even find them at all in most cities. Partially this is self-inflicted. Several American transit agencies have planned streetcars doomed, with routes that are too short, illogical, mixed with traffic, and infrequency. Immediately expected to succeed, first-time streetcar agencies often run into design and construction snafus and instead open lines immediately designed with bad press and even scandal, such as Koch brothers backed propagandist. Other times, liberal commentators and politicians on both sides seem all too willing to do the Koch brothers work for them, and join the rush to kill streetcar projects... it seems they'd rather make streetcars a sacrificial lamb. Pete Buttigieg would like to see more. We here like our cars and some have multiple cars, adding to atmosphere pollution. When I was recently in Budapest I fell in love with the trollies, or as they called them trams, and was struck by how effectively the city used streetcars to move people through its bustling core. Warbucks showed me an article that said ridership exceeds one million on the city's 36 tram routes., which apparently makes it the most-used streetcar network in the world, and supplements an also well-used subway system, which was exceptionally clean, and most stations stunning architectural marvels and works of art. Considering the city's population, that serious ridership. Budapest has just shy of 1.8 million residents, while the metropolitan area has more the 3.3 million. Some snaps of the lovely cars.....
Budapest manages to have the world's busiest tram network because they dedicate road space to it...give trams priority and build in an urban pattern. As a result, most people rely on transit as their primary means to get around. Only 42% of Hungarians own cars and that is likely even lower in Budapest. And the article said the ownership rate is dropping further. I loved and looked forward to getting around the city of these trams...and day passes were so inexpensive compared to ours here. Long story short, Budapest is an exceedingly pleasant place to get around...by tram, foot, or bike. And it was half the fun.
Loved the street cars! That yellow is so vibrant!
ReplyDeleteI have not seen a street car in person. We have golf cart limos that take us anywhere in the city for $2 bucks.
ReplyDeleteSmooches ( I'm glad you're back safe and sound)
Gold cart limos!?!??! Have you been hanging out at the Woods Campground?
DeletePublic transportation in rural America isn't.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe.
One of the things I loved about Amsterdam was the trams. And the fact that the Dutch cater for cyclists, too. Most other cities are car-mad! Trams make so much sense.
ReplyDeleteBike transport is getting better here...but other mass transit is getting worst. A cousin of mine was just here from Texas who works for the public trans. system there. They are short by over 300 workers since the pandemic. They can't seem to find drivers or mechanics for that matter. It's forcing them to cut public transportation to some areas, run at limited times and pick and choose which lines and routes take propriety. Huston and the surrounding area isn't exactly small.
DeleteEurope knows how to do urban transpo right! Unlike most of North America.
ReplyDeleteThey sure are way ahead of the US that's for sure.
DeleteTundra Bunny here...
ReplyDeleteI love streetcars & trolleys too, but the only ones I've ever been on were the iconic red and white ones in Toronto. The "ding-ding" of their bells always amused me! The small geographic size and huge population densities of European countries make mass transit systems easier to fund, maintain and innovate. You're also absolutely right that North American cities have to dedicate road space to mass transit systems, make them a priority and build them in urban patterns!
ahem.
Delete"Clang, clang, clang went the trolley
Ding, ding, ding went the bell
Zing, zing, zing went my heartstrings
From the moment I saw him I fell
Chug, chug, chug went the motor
Bump, bump, bump went the brake
Thump, thump, thump went my heartstrings
When he smiled I could feel the car shake"
Tundra Bunny again...
DeleteHow did you know that "The Trolley Song" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" are two of my favourite Judy Garland songs?
For as old as Budapest is there "mass"transit is very well excuted and planned. I just read a piece in a book about Budapest I read a year ago. The history of the Budapest tram transport goes back to more than 120 years. It is a long time even in the life of a capital city which is a metropolis in rank and size. It would be hard to imagine all the things the residents of Budapest could see from the tram-windows during all these years. The Great Boulevard under construction, the House of Parliament growing out of the earth on the right-side bank of the Danube, new bridges spanning over the river to connect Buda and Pest or the birth of the first underground railway of the Continent. I found it a great way to get around.
ReplyDeleteHow good to know this; once upon a time it was a horrid hellish place.
ReplyDeleteI was very surprised Urspo. There were no vampires or torturing Hostels either. I've watched too many horror movies. The only negative is their Prime Minster...the evil Orban..
DeleteI love the tram system when I was there. I also couldn't believe how inexpensive day or more passes were. I found it nice just riding on it, and viewing from the windows and getting bearings as to where things were. It was great. And what's not to like about them being yellow?
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing they still do so well with them. We in the US depend on cars way more than in Europe. Our traffic is way too heavy and congested to even support street cars again. How did we get to where we are???
ReplyDeleteThat third picture is excellent. Capturing the tram and fog.
ReplyDeleteSo much healthier to take the focus away from cars, especially within cities. I love trams. We don't have any in Málaga but public transit is so much better. I prefer riding the commuter rail over driving.
ReplyDeleteI've never spent time on buses, but I absolutely love train travel, and I use the original rail in Philly most often, just because traffic was that bad. But nothing beats a walkable City does it Mitchell?
DeleteSimply beautiful, honestly! 💛
ReplyDeleteAnother reason to go there.
ReplyDeleteI suspect you and your hubby would have a lovely time there.
Deletethese yellow trams look a lot pre 1989, but they're so nice
ReplyDeleteI think that's why I fell in love with them. I have a retro vibe to them yet efficient for the modern day.
DeleteNo cars in view - perhaps other European cities should take note?
ReplyDeleteOh there was a fair share of course but some of these pictures were taken very early in the morning. But I will admit traffic is much lighter compared to other cities I've been.
DeleteI too loved the trams in Budapest and they were free for senior residents.. we could learn a lesson here in North America from them..
ReplyDeleteWe have a transit system, but to be honest I hope to never use it again after dark. It's not quite like The Warriors on there, but it's not safe.
ReplyDeleteAs an old lady, you just know I would love this tram transportation. So retro and stylistic.
ReplyDeleteThis is great. I have been to many cities...but when we travel with the symphony were on such a tight schedule, we often don't have much time between practice and perform times to see much.
ReplyDelete