What cities have free public transportation?
Nothing is free. The money comes from somewhere. Park City, Utah has a fairly extensive municipal system that is "free." The fare is free, but the operating expenses are paid out of local sales tax, resort tax, business taxes and city general funds. The service is surprisingly well used and is essential for large community events (and powder days). This is an established resort community with very high housing prices, absentee seasonal homeowners and a very large seasonal service/resort sector that must, almost by definition, commute from outside (much like many other western resort communities - Aspen, Vail, Jackson, Sun Valley and many others). Many medium and large cities, including Salt Lake City, Utah are backing away from free fare zones and districts due to operational issues including fare evasion (these zones require pay as you exit unless they are circulators only), operator safety and financial and/or sponsorship difficulties. Of course many of these issues could be addressed with creative and widespread application of electronic fare collection and a bit of institutional creativity.
In your own personal experience, which country or city has the best and worst public transportation?
Many Asian cities have top-notch and affordable public transportation systems. I concur with the CNN article and think Hong Kong has probably the best one. Metro and buses are clean and efficient (good accessibility too). If you manage to learn how to use minibuses, it’s even better - for both the convenience and the thrill. Crossing Victoria Harbour on a Star Ferry is an absolute steal - incredible view for a fraction of a dollar! Trams also offer a unique experience at unbelievably low prices. Then there’s the Airport Express which lets you check in at their downtown stations. And of course Octopus card makes everything even easier.Singapore’s MRT is also good, but at times I find it slow. I also find the bus system not as easy to use as in Hong Kong.London Underground has a special charm. It’s nowhere close to affordable, but I find it really cute, like many things in London. When I first visited London and saw the service status board showing which lines were in ‘good service’, I was a bit baffled. At that time I had been living in Hong Kong for a few years and just thought all lines in good service should be the norm. Apparently that doesn’t happen very often in London.New York’s subway makes sure I never run out of things to moan about. It’s dirty, smelly, and reliably unreliable. On weekends, few lines are running on its normal track per its normal schedule. But at least they always let you know the alternate routes. It is actually 24/7. So at any time, anywhere, you know you’ll be able to get to your destination. Not that easily, but eventually, you’ll get there.I don’t think I can think of a worst. I think the worst public transportation is the absence of it.
Do European countries have free WiFi service in cities?
From my experience of living and traveling across some European countries (Finland, Italy, Latvia, Germany, France, Sweden and Switzerland) I can say that the WiFi services in the cities is good. While one can access/use free WiFi service at majority of the popular/public places. At times, paid alternatives are also available For example, in Finland, one can access free WiFi in most restaurants, City Center - Kamppi, inside metro rail, at libraries and at the UN World Heritage Site Suomenlinna. There is an interesting survey about 9 Cities With The Best Free Wifi. Florence (Italy) also features in the list. As mentioned, the city's multi-museum pass, the Firenze Card ( firenzecard.it ), costs 72 euros, but includes most major museums and public transport, and comes with 72 hours of free Wi-Fi at a network of hotspots run by the city. Sites are well spread around the centre, including in popular parks and piazzas. The Loggia dei Lanzi outdoor sculpture gallery must qualify as one of the world's most handsome Wi-Fi zones.In a nutshell, most cities have decent WiFi connectivity with options for free and paid access. Additional Reading: Cities with Fantastically Free WiFi - GoEuro UK Blog
Would you recommend Uber in Amsterdam?
Uber is great and easy in Amsterdam. There is a flat fee from the airport to the center which is the same as a taxi, Within the city UberBlack is a bit cheaper than a taxi and UberPop is half price. UberPop is technically not allowed, but operates normally.New to Uber or never used it in euros before? Then you save €10! Enter in my promo code 'hwrvz' on your first ride (in euros). Install it on your smart phone and chose UberBlack or UberPop and summon your car.A convenient place to meet your driver is on Vertrekpassage (which is a street). Set your pickup point there. Then you could meet him upstairs at Departures 2 door or Departures 3 door. Take the escalator up to Departures directly after you exit customs. Don't go through the shopping mall towards the train station or the taxis. (There is a supermarket in that shopping mall).UberBlack is a final fare of €45 (€35 with discount) to the city center and is nicer than a regular taxi. UberPOP (our UberX) costs €25 (€15 with the discount). Then you get a friendly private guy in his private car. Note that there are not always UberPOP cars at the airport. Despite what lazy journalists have reported, all Uber services are running in Amsterdam. Sit in the front if it's UberPOP. Passengers and drivers alike prefer it doesn't look like a taxi.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of metro rail transportation?
As with any mass transit system there are advantages and disadvantages to the Mumbai Metro.Advantages· Congestion easing· Ease of transport to and from outlying regions· Air conditioning· Safe transport· Speed· Modernity· AccessibilityDisadvantages· Cost· Disruption· Loss of controlIn Depth Advantages· Congestion easingMumbai is India's biggest city, and the Andheri-Kurla Road for instance is one of the busiest roads in the country, especially during monsoon season, when driving can be more difficult. The Metro would be able to take almost three times as many people as would be able to drive in the same space, meaning a lot fewer road users. This in turn would allow the remaining road users to get to their destinations faster, and allow the Metro users to meet them there.Outlying regions The Metro's route is set to include several outlying areas, and as such will give people living in those areas opportunities in the city that would otherwise be denied them.Air conditioningThe trains will be air conditioned, to make traveling, even in India's heat, a pleasant experience.Safe transportThe trains will also feature CCTV, to discourage crime on the Metro.SpeedThere will be a train every 3.5 minutes (and every 3 minutes at peak time), with the most popular journeys taking around 21 minutes.ModernityThe fact that the Metro is being built in the 21st century make it smoother, safer, faster, and cleaner than practically any other Metro on the planet.AccessibilityThe Metro will be accessible to wheelchair-users, which (given parking restrictions) is hardly the case with car journeys.In depth disadvantagesCostThe cost of construction is being met by GE and other investors, but city-dwellers may well not either have the resources or the inclination to pay for Metro journeys.DisruptionAny long-term (15 year) construction project covering 148 Km will cause significant disruption to the lives of locals during the whole course of construction.Loss of controlDrivers always have control over their journeys. People will have to adjust to allowing others to control their journey.Have a nice journey !!!