My experience was the same, though I was only there for a few days.
I remember the "PIDs" for the funicular up to Taksim Square even counted down by the second.
Be sure to leave your impressions of other cities' transit systems here.
I just got back from several months in Istanbul, Turkey. While there, I didn't have a car and depended on mass transit for pretty much every move.Other items:
Let me start by saying Istanbul puts DC to shame. I never, ever ever was offloaded there, and I was a heavy user of the buses, subway, streetcar and even ferries.
Furthermore, it seemed almost magical. When I needed to take a subway to a bus, the bus was there. When I needed to take a streetcar from the subway, the streetcar was there.
And in Istanbul, they even have ferries mixed into the picture. Yeah, they go on a schedule, too. Amazing how a schedule helps riders.
Mind you, I'm talking rush hour, late night, Saturday, anytime.
To paraphrase Steve Jobs, it just worked.
Fares are just over a buck, though on some transfers you do have to pay again.
That was my first experience with a mass transit system outside of DC, and it really opened my eyes. Metro is really not a good value at all, not to mention how shaky the service is.
The U.S. ranks first in nominal GDP while Turkey ranks 17, behind Mexico.
26 rail cracks this year (Examiner)
Todd · 638 weeks ago
Jason · 638 weeks ago
Even small and medium sized European cities will often put Metro to shame in terms of public transportation systems. I spent a couple of months in Heidelberg, Germany--population 150,000--has a pretty extensive streetcar and bus system. Other than a portion of the old city, you could take public transportation pretty much anywhere, and the old city was a huge pedestrian/tourist area so it would have been infeasible to run transit through. The public transit did shut down around midnight, leaving you to walk or taxi home from the bars, but that at least seems to be par for the course in Europe.
SpareSomeChange · 638 weeks ago
trish · 638 weeks ago
@Southfive · 637 weeks ago
As someone who has taken the train numerous times from Osmanbey to Sisli and back, I can say that it does go underground.
John · 638 weeks ago
Kara · 638 weeks ago
1) it is integrated with the commuter rail ... I could get on at South Station and get off in the far suburbs
2) when pushing a closing time they did not just slam the gate in my face ... I could get in if there was still a train coming
3) while I rarely needed to talk to the station managers there they were always polite
4) the system (even with more information for their maps) is pretty obvious ... I was away from it for a decade or two during some substantial changes and picked up everything quickly by watching other people
5) they *gasp* consider riders intelligent, you can actually walk from car to car if you want to
6) bench seating!!!!
7) yes, the system shows its age in parts but it is MUCH older than the metro
ddd · 638 weeks ago
Kara · 638 weeks ago
John · 638 weeks ago
Having lived in D.C., NYC, and Boston, I'd have to say that my experiences in DC and Boston have been poor and the experience in NYC was wonderful.
Kara · 638 weeks ago
ddd · 638 weeks ago
Kate · 638 weeks ago
/Northeastern alum
hrh king friday 13 · 638 weeks ago
russell.j.coller.jr · 638 weeks ago
Steve · 638 weeks ago
bullsumner · 638 weeks ago
Mary · 638 weeks ago
Chantal · 638 weeks ago
jkuchen · 638 weeks ago
On the previous thread a while back, I alluded to Singapore. It's been five years since I have been there, but I was most impressed with their system. Then again, if we had all of the structures in Singapore, well, it wouldn't be America.
dcn8v · 638 weeks ago
SpareSomeChange · 638 weeks ago
Guest · 638 weeks ago
According to the PIDS, there were 2 other yellow trains at one-minute intervals following behind the one that I finally got on. Yay headways!!!!
On a related note: "residual delay"? You're either on time, or not..."residular delay" seems like a term made up by the marketing department to make people feel better about their overly-long waits. "Oh, don't worry, those are just *residual* minutes that you'll be waiting! So, nothing to worry about! Right?"
Jason · 638 weeks ago
I agree that the way Metro uses it is pretty fuzzy, though.
bet · 638 weeks ago
YellowLiner · 638 weeks ago
SammyDC · 638 weeks ago
Bob · 638 weeks ago
MetroDerp · 638 weeks ago
Betsy · 638 weeks ago
Guest · 638 weeks ago
dcn8v · 638 weeks ago
olgaindc 22p · 638 weeks ago
Speaking about Mexico - Mexico city also decent public transit with 10 times the population of DC metro area.