Compare and contrast the Copenhagen transit system to another on you know well, from home or somewhere else in the United States. Discuss what you believe are strong elements in Copenhagen’s public transportation and the areas you think the city could improve upon. What does Copenhagen do that might be applicable to your city? Does the city you chose have any examples or ideas that Copenhagen could adopt? Which transit system do you feel safer riding and why?
I am fortunate enough to attend university in a large metropolitan city with great public transit infrastructure, Minneapolis (Minnesota). Although similarly comprehensive to Copenhagen’s, there are key differences in the mode, price and public support of the two transit systems.
To begin, Minneapolis’ relies primarily on buses to move the masses; trains dominate Copenhagen’s public transit. Minneapolis once had a streetcar system but it was bought out and removed as part of General Motor’s push to sell more buses and cars during the 1940’s and 50’s. The city has recently completed a light rail train line and commuter rail line with plans for future expansion.
A former Minneapolis streetcar
[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duluth_streetcar_265.jpg]
Another primary difference between the two systems is the price to ride. In Minneapolis, $1.75 will get you a ticket to ride anywhere on the buses and trains for up to 2 and ½ hours (transfers included). I think the reason their prices can remain lower counts for the fact that the US has a larger tax base to pay for the constructions with.
Minneapolis city bus with bike rack
[http://www.metrocouncil.org/directions/transit/transit2006/CommuterChallengeApr06.htm]
Although ridership has been increasing, especially around the university and northern suburbs, expansion of the rail line is increasingly difficult, as people fear large government spending during the current recession. Here in Copenhagen it seems just the opposite, that people continuously encourage the expansion of public transit all the time.
No public transportation network is perfect. In Minneapolis, there is a strong push to further develop bike lanes. In fact, the city mandates a percentage of spending for road construction be spent to add/improve existing lanes for bicycle traffic. This is something Copenhagen has mastered with their implementation of ‘green waves’ during rush hour. The leisure biking culture also differs between the cities, as Minneapolis has many more bike paths surrounding the city, which fosters bike riders at a younger age in a traffic-less environment.
City biking improvements in Minneapolis
[http://www.minnesotapersonal-injurylawyer.com/hennepin-minneapolis-bike-box-bike-lane.html]
When it comes to busses, Minneapolis could also learn a thing or two from Copenhagen. Denmark’s capital city has bus shelters and route information at every stop. In Minneapolis, you only find this info at major intersections. All other stops are marked with a simple ‘Bus Stop’ sign, which often doesn’t include even the route number. Text updates on late/early buses would also be appreciated for those rainy spring, or harsh winter days.
Minneapolis bus stop
[http://blog.lib.umn.edu/levin031/transportationist/2006/11/on_a_streetcar_named_developme.html]
Copenhagen bus stop
[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bus_stop_Copenhagen.JPG]
As much as I can complain about changes I’d like to see in Minneapolis, the quality of public transit in the city far outdoes my hometown of Milwaukee. Although pushing for a light rail system, trains running throughout downtown within the next decade don’t seem likely. Milwaukee’s buses also have their own set of stereotypes, often dominated by poorer people, driving away the common traveler. Given what I’ve seen in Minneapolis and Copenhagen I hope more cities continue to push themselves to develop better, faster and smarter public transit systems.
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