Comments on: National Geographic Reveals the World’s Transit Superstars

By: NY Health Coaching Jenn Edden

NY Health Coaching Jenn Edden — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:16:20 +0000

Seems like the list does a pretty decent job of promoting public transit and green alternatives. While I dont have time to read through 300 pages, it sounds like Brazil is really embracing the green movement. I wonder if they talk about how green their rainforest is? Seems like that might be factored into the equation if you know what i’m saying.

By: david johnson

david johnson — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:48:41 +0000

i guess walking doesn’t count, eh?

By: Vladimir Zlokazov

Vladimir Zlokazov — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:57:31 +0000

Being Russian I can say that this first place is mostly a result of the soviet times tradition when very few people could hope to buy a car (just because they were a deficite) and the years of economical downturn of the 90′s. In recent years with the growth of income more and more people could afford to buy a car. As a result we have huge congestion in major cities and on busy highways because the old road infrastucture just can’t let through the increased amount of traffic. The parking policies still don’t exist and we’ve our cities’ centers packed with parked cars on all available surfaces.

The government spendings on transportation increased as well but they prefer building elevated highways rather than investing in transit because road construction gives great chances to steal budget money.

We still have a lot of people using transit in a lot of different means of it. We have buses, trolleys, trams and subway. But still I can say that the transit is degrading. Most of the time it depends on the same traffic jams as the cars do. The vehicles are old and uncomfortable (in winter it is cold in them, in summer it is hot). So why riding transit if I can buy a car – that is a common way of thinking of more and more people here.

By: Ian Turner

Ian Turner — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:22:49 +0000

Oh, and also, these results are based on an online survey, one of the least-reliable data collection techniques out there.

By: Ian Turner

Ian Turner — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:20:59 +0000

This report only covers 17 countries. I’m pretty sure it’s not true that “only one nation” can report a majority of transit-takers. In particular, Singapore was not included in this study: In that country, the number of daily passenger trips (4.4m) is just about equal to the population of the country (4.5m)

By: Cap'n Transit

Cap'n Transit — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:38:41 +0000

On the subject of Russia, from the survey’s “Market Basket Report”:

Of particular note has been the growth of vehicle registrations in Russia. In 2006, there were 14.4 registrations per 1,000 Russian citizens, half the rate of 27.0 recorded in Canada. In 2008, registrations in Russia have risen to 23.0, almost equal to Canada’s 25.3.

The lowest number of new vehicle registrations were in India, China and Mexico, no surprise. The biggest decreases in new vehicle registrations were Spain (thanks, AVE!) and Sweden.

By: Cap'n Transit

Cap'n Transit — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:24:11 +0000

Oh, and based on this survey I’m seriously considering moving to Buenos Aires. Mmm, steak.

By: Cap'n Transit

Cap'n Transit — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:22:54 +0000

Fascinating. Particularly the charts on pages 69 and 173.