What North America can learn from the greatest transportation system in the world
www.theglobeandmail.com
Fifty years ago, Switzerland was poised to become as car-dependent as anywhere in North America. Now it has the best transit system in the world. What’s the secret to this alpine nation’s transport supremacy?

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This was a revelation. For just over $6,000 a year, the Swiss can travel anywhere, reliably, in comfort, and get where they’re going on time. (In neighbouring Austria, where the cost of living isn’t so high, the equivalent national rail pass costs just €1,100 – or $1,600.) In Canada and the United States, the average cost of car ownership – including payments, parking tickets, insurance, parking, and gas – is more than $12,000 a year. That’s a high price to pay for a system that delivers congestion, traffic deaths and injuries, air pollution – and, more often than not, gets us to work or school late. For half the price North Americans pay, the Swiss get reliable, anywhere-to-anywhere mobility.

  • @[email protected]English
    17•2 days ago

    So what you’re saying is that Virginia could have public transport on the level of Switzerland. I imagine it would even be cheaper since Virginia is much less mountainous.

    Edit: even economically they are not radically different
    Virginia: GDP $759.2B, per capita $86,747
    Switzerland: GDP $942.2B, per capita $106,097

    • MajorllamaEnglish
      5•2 days ago

      Yeah but you would have to convince Virginians to live closer to one place instead of being scattered to the wind across their state lol.