Residents of Zürich and Vienna are the most satisfied ones with public transport

Residents of Zürich and Vienna are the most satisfied ones with public transport

Public urban transport includes various types of services that enable mobility for citizens and residents, including transport by bus, train, subway, ferries, taxis and their variations. In addition, it can also play a very important and unique role in an efficient public transport system by providing affordable mobility to non-driver citizens and offering an efficient way to travel to urban areas.

Increased demand and preference in the use of personal transport vehicles is causing rapid motorization in many countries around the world. In view of reducing the negative consequences of the overuse of passengers’ cars and other private motorized means of transport, cities and many countries around the world are trying to offer an alternative mode of transport. In the near future, the public urban transport should become a part of the solution for a sustainable mode of transport. 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.