Anyone traveling in Europe who does not take advantage of public transportation pays a price -- economically and culturally. I rely on trains, buses and trams to get around, avoiding the cost and perceived convenience of a "for hire" car. I've rented or hired my share of cars and taxis abroad but now prefer public modes, since the one-hour bus ride between Vienna and Bratislava (about 35 miles or 55 kilometers) is much cheaper than a 15-minute cab ride in either city (several miles or kilometers in traffic).
Public transportation in Europe has evolved to a point of where it is a natural part of the land or cityscape -- using it is second nature.
For example, one can easily mistake Bratislava's bus station (autobusová stanica) for some other activity -- its plain functional façade hides the goings on inside and behind. (For the foreign observer, there are many similar buildings, providing shelter for an array of services, indistinguishable without a little investigation.) There is not a whole lot of glamour and glitz expended on such structures, though they do seem to operate well, and in the case of transportation, are very punctual. Of course, if one can read the local language, signs plainly say it all.
Public transportation in Europe has evolved to a point of where it is a natural part of the land or cityscape -- using it is second nature.
For example, one can easily mistake Bratislava's bus station (autobusová stanica) for some other activity -- its plain functional façade hides the goings on inside and behind. (For the foreign observer, there are many similar buildings, providing shelter for an array of services, indistinguishable without a little investigation.) There is not a whole lot of glamour and glitz expended on such structures, though they do seem to operate well, and in the case of transportation, are very punctual. Of course, if one can read the local language, signs plainly say it all.
Recently I noticed that many of the inter city buses now have on board Wi-Fi (for the curious, checkout www.orangeways.com -- their buses appear to be very popular with the "backpacking, explorer, on to the next city" crowd). I was pleased to be able to pick up and surf the Internet while I was next to an Orangeway bus (obviously marked Wi-Fi capable).
Although the Vienna-Bratislava buses are not yet so equipped, they are decent and comfortable. Efficient.
