Greeting USF sustainability enthusiasts from Vienna, Austria! I have been in the heart of Europe now for nearly a week and have much to report! In my short time being here, I have been able to utilize a world class public transportation system. The electromobility technologies along with supreme timing efficiency have made it possible for even foreigners to navigate the European continent with ease. Thus far, I have been to Bratislava, Slovakia to compare sustainability lifestyles while focusing my attention on transportation.
What I have found thus far is many European cities are very old, many dating back to the Middle Ages. While many cities have continued using the foundation for
architecture and development, close quarter living appears to be a reoccurrence
in many cities. For this reason, the streets are all very narrow(able to fit horse
carriages, bicycles, etc., not 4 lane roads for cars). What Austria has
done is develop a rail network of street cars that are massive and can hold
hundreds of people at a time while using very little space. These street cars
abide street lights, signs, and all other street rules and regulations.
The environmental impact to reduce carbon emissions from massive amounts of road traffic is undoubtedly one of the many reasons Vienna is so clean, making the city so aesthetically pleasurable. Not only is the public transportation more environmentally suitable, it is more efficient than owning and operating a private vehicle. The monthly passes are €45 (about $70) which offer unlimited, anytime, any method travel. There is no need to know what time the bus, rail, or subway arrives because the next ride typically does not exceed more than 10-15 minutes. Sustainability is a lifestyle here, and there is much to learn. Stay tuned next week for my blog which should report my findings in Budapest, Hungary.