Reliable? Compared to the rest of developed Europe, no. But usable? Compared to 99% of North America, VERY. Most of the US doesn’t even have access to public transport, only in bigger cities will you expect to find it. And when you do find it it’s basically unusable and probably will arrive an hour later than scheduled most of the time, except around the northeastearn US and massive cities like Chicago.
Germany has some pretty terrible public transport, but next to American public transport it’s comparatively extremely good (which is kind of funny but also sad)
There’s a lot of complaining about European trains in X nation not being as good as the rest of Europe… In reality, it’s just France have great trains when they’re not striking and every other European nation believes that’s the standard for the whole west of Europe except with less striking when it’s just not
Last year my local train station was out of service for three months with a replacement bus starting too late in the day in the next village. And you know all too well about the strikes.
I cannot rely on public infrastructure to get me to work. Even though I avoid a car 90% of days I absolutely need access to a car for the remaining 10%.
I took a guy from my village along for free too when the train wasn’t running. I met him on the train and he doesn’t have a license. Without a car or a friend with a car you’re screwed in small town Germany, and I think it’s a damn shame.
Reliable? Compared to the rest of developed Europe, no. But usable? Compared to 99% of North America, VERY. Most of the US doesn’t even have access to public transport, only in bigger cities will you expect to find it. And when you do find it it’s basically unusable and probably will arrive an hour later than scheduled most of the time, except around the northeastearn US and massive cities like Chicago.
Germany has some pretty terrible public transport, but next to American public transport it’s comparatively extremely good (which is kind of funny but also sad)
There’s a lot of complaining about European trains in X nation not being as good as the rest of Europe… In reality, it’s just France have great trains when they’re not striking and every other European nation believes that’s the standard for the whole west of Europe except with less striking when it’s just not
The keyword here is “reliable”.
Last year my local train station was out of service for three months with a replacement bus starting too late in the day in the next village. And you know all too well about the strikes.
I cannot rely on public infrastructure to get me to work. Even though I avoid a car 90% of days I absolutely need access to a car for the remaining 10%.
I took a guy from my village along for free too when the train wasn’t running. I met him on the train and he doesn’t have a license. Without a car or a friend with a car you’re screwed in small town Germany, and I think it’s a damn shame.