Buses, trams and the subway can take public transport users to any of the many locations in the wider city area in the shortest possible time. However, in order for the public transport to retain and attract more passengers, it must offer and enable a high level of service quality – safety, comfort, punctuality, so it can meet the wide range of needs for a large number of different users.

In 2015 and within 112 European cities, Eurostat conducted a survey on how successful are European cities regarding this matter, and the results show that very few cities have managed to find a model of public transport that satisfies its citizens. Only eight cities have over 50 percent of citizens who are satisfied with public transport, and two cities – Zürich  and Vienna – can be completely satisfied.

In Zürich (Switzerland), 79 percent of respondents are very satisfied with public transport, while in Vienna (Austria)  the percentage is 72.

Daniela Tobler, head of Media Relations at Verkehrsbetriebe der Stadt Zürich (Public Transportation Company in Zurich), stated for Mayors of Europe: “The running costs regarding public transportation are around 530 million CHF per year, while the capital expenditure amounted to around 100 million CHF in 2019. Tram and bus lines recorded 305 million passengers last year.

In the last five years (2015 – 2020), based on the municipal plan on transport and city development and on the public transport network development strategy, various expansions were implemented, in particular new tram link Hardbrücke, new tram link Limmattalbahn beyond city border, and the new bus line 83.”

They are followed by three German cities, Dresden – with 61 percent, Rostock (57%) and Freiburg im Breisgau – 54 percent. Rotterdam (Netherlands) has the same percentage as Freiburg, Burgas in Bulgaria is a city with 53 percent of very satisfied passengers in public transport, 51 percent of very satisfied users live in Munich and 49 percent in Helsinki.