Business travelers and transferees are looking for more choice when they’re on the move. But they want simplicity, too – not a complex menu of unfamiliar possibilities. Public transportation is one area where these desires are increasingly satisfied. And with more sustainable options, getting around a foreign city can also be an eco-friendly experience.
What makes a good public transit service? Riders want a safe, clean, accessible, reliable system with well-integrated modes that are affordable and ideally cover suburban areas. Some of the world’s cities noted for excellent public transit include Hong Kong, New York, Paris, Singapore, and Stockholm.
Riders want to minimize their carbon footprint, too. Cities like London, Singapore, Beijing, Dakar, Sydney, and Washington D.C. are just a few that have committed to low- and zero-emission public bus fleets.
Beyond buses and trains, many commuters want cycling and walking opportunities as well. Multimodal transit apps help piece together a journey that may involve riding an e-bike to a train, traveling five stops and then walking the final two blocks to the office. For example, Berlin’s Jelbi, Hong Kong’s HKeMobility, and Singapore’s MyTransport platforms help people move by connecting them to mobility solutions like public transit, driving and walking routes, parking and real-time traffic data, sharing services, and accessible modes for travelers with disabilities. Citymapperand Moovit apps cover more than 400 and 3500 global cities, respectively.
Smart transit choices not only benefit the rider, they also improve whole cities. Demands for emissions reduction, traffic mitigation, pedestrian safety, and healthy options have helped redraw many clogged urban streets into quiet, clean bus routes integrating with train schedules and bike lanes.
Public bike sharing and e-scooter programs provide further earth-friendly choice for short trips or leisure outings. Cities like Barcelona, Hangzhou China, Kigali Rwanda, and Montreal boast notable bike share networks.
All this gives the traveler more agency over how they spend their commuting time and money, while making transit a bit easier and more fun.
Find public transport details in hundreds of cities in the International Relocation Center’s country reports/Get Around/Mass transit sections.
Written by Ellen Harris, GMS, Product Manager, Content Group
