Public transport isn’t just a way to get from point A to point B—it’s a gateway to experiencing a city in its truest, most authentic form. It’s one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly ways to travel, helping reduce congestion, cut down on emissions, and lower your carbon footprint. We have spent many journeys on trains and buses in European cities. And some rides, for the cost of the train ride you can be part of a folk train, a sauna train, or the Techno Train. Let’s see how European cities compare in prices, to each other, with inclusions from the Levante.

Single-Ride City Bus/Train Fare Comparison

Inside cities, trains are more than just transportation; they’re stages for spontaneous experiences and unexpected adventures. From techno parties to educational lectures, trains around the world are transforming the way people travel, making public transport a fun, engaging, and sustainable option.

In Germany, the Techno Train doubles as a nightclub on rails, powered by renewable energy and offering an eco-friendly alternative to car travel. It’s not just about the music—it’s about reducing carbon footprints while dancing the night away. Meanwhile, in Israel, professors turn commuter trains into mobile classrooms, giving passengers a chance to learn about everything from physics to Einstein’s love letters. It’s proof that even a daily commute can be inspiring.

For those who love culture and tradition, Germany’s MusikWinkel Express serves local beer with live accordion music, turning a simple ride into a festive celebration. Japan takes a quieter approach with garden-themed trains that promote relaxation and biodiversity, offering passengers a breath of fresh air even in bustling cities like Tokyo and Kyoto.

Other unique experiences include London’s Supper Club Train, combining fine dining with scenic views, and Taiwan’s educational trains where kids can participate in science experiments on the go. For thrill-seekers, Belgium’s Rampage Express pre-party train brings the festival vibes before you even reach the event.

These examples show that train travel can be an adventure in itself. Whether it’s learning, partying, or just enjoying the ride, taking the train offers endless possibilities to connect with others, explore new ideas, and experience the city in a completely new way. So next time, skip the car and hop on a train—who knows what kind of journey you’ll have?

Data source: public transport sites of cities in Europe. Report an inaccuracy, add a city: transport@greenprophet.com

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In a country that honors the private vehicle and its wealth from oil and gas, in a twist of opposite expectations Qatar says it plans on making all public transportation electric by 2030. Qatar’s Ministry of Transport (MoT) has boasted a significant milestone: 70% of public buses are now electric, with an ambitious goal of a fully electric fleet by 2030. Qatar also wants 35% of all cars to be electric cars in this same time frame.

According to Arabian Gulf Business Insight, electric vehicle sales could make up 20 percent of the total auto market in Qatar by 2032, experts forecast, as the Gulf state launches its first EV brand.

Doha and the rest of Qatar are dominated by cars. Get a job offer in Qatar (if you aren’t from Pakistan, India or Sudan in construction) and you will get a car, and a house as a part of the deal. Everybody drives in Qatar where the private vehicle reigns, and while public transport  technically “exists” in the form of buses and a brand new Doha Metro system, taxis are still the easiest way of getting around if you have cash. Much of the time it is too hot outside to walk far.

Read Also: This EV factory is built out of the oil industry

So still in a dream stage his eco-friendly shift promises a significant impact: cleaner air, reduced energy consumption, and a smaller carbon footprint.

The environmental benefits are substantial but only when the electric power itself is derived from clean and renewable energy sources.

Electric buses produce zero tailpipe emissions, drastically reducing air pollution in urban centers heavily reliant on public transport.

Additionally, the switch from fossil fuels to electricity translates to lower energy consumption and a reduced national carbon footprint, aligning with Qatar’s commitment to combating climate change. MoT’s Director of Land Transport Licensing, Hamad Ali Al Marri, emphasized these benefits during a recent ceremony.

He pointed to the creation of an integrated infrastructure – likely a network of strategically placed charging stations – to support the electric bus operation.

This electrification initiative coincides with the launch of “Environmental Sustainability in Qatar: Achievements and Challenges.”

Read Also: Saudi Arabia’s electric vehicle market

Qatar-based Ecotranzit showcased the first prototypes of its Vim-branded electric vehicle in 2023. They are manufactured under its exclusive intellectual property rights deal with partners including China-based Beijing Automotive Works. The company plans to design and build its own electric cars in the future and has started to invest in assembly plants and preliminary production lines, according to Qatar News Agency.

The Qatari Gulf state ranks behind the UAE and Saudi Arabia in electric vehicle production, where multi-billion dollar investments have been made to set up factories and attract big-name players such as Lucid.

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They take wide turns in city streets and clog them as you are trying to make a left turn in your car. You think to yourself about how much traffic piles of city buses cause when in fact, you are the traffic. 

Buses can be the bane of your existence if you need to travel to uncertain destinations but if you are commuting regularly or have time to plan a trip taking the bus can be the most safe and sustainable option. But taking the bus is a headache because of inconvenient schedules and reliability. Having an app live Moveit can help you time your local buses and other apps run by private companies that schedule the buses can make the wait for boarding more pleasant. 

Here are 5 other tips for making your bus journey more pleasant:

1. Plan your last mile: taking the train to cities like Jerusalem from Tel Aviv or taking buses from New York to Boston can be a way to relax and avoid all the expensive covid testing procedures that may be required for even short flights or train rides. The bus, when you count the getting to the airport, security screening, waiting times, boarding times and risk of flight cancel, might actually be the faster and cheaper way to get between American and European cities. But consider the last mile. How do you plan to get from the bus stop to your destination? Taking another bus might be too confusing or challenging. Maybe plan to take a taxi or an Uber? Or have a friend or family member lined up to pick you up from the bus. If you paick light, unfold your electric scooter, put your backpack on your back and off you go! Maybe one day soon your bus will be electric or will be powered by Electrode.
2. Avoid diuretic drinks like tea, coffee and alcohol before the bus ride so you won’t be in the uncomfortable position of having to demand an unplanned convenience stop. Do bring bottled water, in your own reusable waters, and some warm herbal tea in the winter. 
3. Plan snacks that are healthy and which keep well without refrigeration. Choose snacks that don’t make crumbs or annoying noises when you eat them. Another mindful consideration when riding the bus, making it more pleasant for you and those who share the space is bringing snacks that have no odor. Some things like boiled eggs or a tuna sandwich can be difficult for people who are sensitive to odors.
4. On that note, also avoid perfume of any kind. Have you been there on a public bus when a woman sits down across from you with perfume so strong it makes you want to vomit? The movement and swaying of the bus can amplify the sensitivities to smells for others. Be mindful so you can expect the same thoughtfulness in return. If an odor near you offends you or makes you feel queasy, because it contains synthetics, try to choose another seat.
5. Bring plenty of activities that don’t require your phone. Staring at a small screen in a closed space will eventually make you feel uncomfortable. Avoid the carsick feeling by bringing larger print materials to read or choose an audio book or podcast in advance that stays close to your ears only. Download backups in case your wireless service changes or becomes unreliable on the journey

The post 5 tips for making the sustainable bus option more practical appeared first on Green Prophet.

HopOn, based in Tel Aviv, is a company of 12 people who plan to change the way people use public transport by offering a smart mobile payment and ticketing platform.

In Israel, HopOn has inserted beacons in 2,000 buses and soon at bike stations and other transportation hubs. Some 10,000 users have installed the app, allowing them to hop on a bus or bike without worrying about how to pay.

For bus operators, this means no more collecting fees person by person, freeing up drivers’ hands and minds to focus on the road. For riders, it means no more line-ups to pay, and more freedom to use the services meant to help us move through cities.

Company CEO Ofer Sinai tells ISRAEL21c that existing automated payment technologies are tethered to hardware and customers need to tap a device with a smart card, which runs on NFC (near field communication).

The hardware is expensive, he says, and you have to check in one by one. Plus, you have to obtain the card. Using HopOn, users’ tickets are validated automatically through a smartphone once they get onto their ride –– through the front door or back. No lines necessary.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/ioSEthx8aXs[/youtube]

In Tel Aviv, the company is working intensively with regulators and with the public bus operator Dan to ensure that customers get a secure and satisfactory experience whether on the bus or through the Tel-O-Fun pay-as-you-go public bike system.

HopOn’s small beacons connect to your smartphone via ultrasound from the vehicle’s GPS system, effortlessly pairing the passenger with a location-based fee.

“We have pay-as-you-go options or pre-paid tickets,” says Sinai. “This is our added value. Even if you didn’t buy the right tickets –– don’t worry, you won’t be charged for what you didn’t use.”

Bus drivers who are part of the HopOn system, indicated to riders with a HopOn logo outside the vehicle, are trained on how to accept this novel form of payment. For now the drivers inspect a “secret code” image provided to them via the HopOn screen on the rider’s mobile device.

For people concerned about privacy, you can’t pay with Bitcoin just yet, but PayPal is an option and certain profile information can be kept anonymous.

A bus ticket to Monaco?

After Israel, the firm plans to take on the French market through a business lead in Monaco. HopOn has a local contact in New Jersey and is negotiating to start something in the United States, but the next market seems to be closer in Europe, Sinai tells ISRAEL21c.

HopOn was founded in 2013 and has raised $700,000 to date from a strategic investor. It is currently in a negotiating cycle with several venture capital firms with the aim of raising $5 million.

The next step for HopOn in Israel is to ramp up use –– to reach a bigger number of the country’s million and a half public-transport passengers every day.

It is also collaborating with other public transport app companies like Moovit. This popular Israeli app is like Waze for public transportation.

HopOn also plans on connecting to trip planners to help people get from Point A to Point B as quickly and easily as possible.

Sinai came onto the idea, with his partner David Mezuman, after many years of commuting between the cities of Tel Aviv and Petah Tikva in Israel. They felt it was ridiculous to have to fish for small change in order to get home. In true Israeli spirit, they didn’t just complain about a problem but resolved to do something about it for the sake of so many other commuters.

All aboard?

This article first appeared on ISRAEL21c – www.israel21c.org

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Moovit, which we’ve written about here, is a social transit app. Much in the same way that Waze crowdsources traffic information, Moovit uses social tools to help you move around public transportation. For most people, unless you are Swiss where the trains and buses run like clockwork, taking public transportation puts your arrival time somewhat in the hands of fate.

Now Moovit lets you track and find when the nxt bus, subway, train or even ferry will arrive, as users logged into the app bring this data with them. It connects with timetable data for better results, and in some destination cities even lets users buy bus and train tickets through the app.

If a bus or train is running behind, is overly crowded (or has a smelly passenger?), the app helps people choose what public situation to “ride” with. This also helps companies that run the lines know if there are certain troubles along the train or bus routes.

Founded in 2012, the company has about 3 million users in 100 cities, mainly in the US, Latin America and Europe. Next up is Asia.

A Waze co-founder sits on the board so we can imagine Moovit will go far, in light speed, even if it is taking the bus.

The post Moovit raises $28 million for public transportation app appeared first on Green Prophet.

Public transportation shuts down completely on the Jewish Sabbath across Israel, but now Tel Aviv (Israel’s secular capital) wants to allow buses within the city on Saturdays.

It’s a bit of a paradox: Saturday is the one day that Israelis universally have off from work, but it is also the only day that public transportation doesn’t operate.  And so if you are a secular Israeli without a car (for either financial or ecological reasons), there is no way for you to get around and enjoy your day off.  (In Tel Aviv you can still take advantage of the city-wide bike sharing system, but that’s not always practical.)

The reason for this weekly public transportation hiatus is religious.  The Jewish Sabbath is designated as a day of rest, and Orthodox Jews observe it by abstaining from driving or riding in motorized vehicles, using electricity, and conducting monetary transactions, among other things.  Which is fine for Orthodox Jews, but Tel Aviv is largely secular and its residents would like an inexpensive, eco-friendly way to get around on the weekends.

The issue recently came to the forefront when the Tel Aviv Municipality voted 13-7 in favor of adding buses on the Sabbath on February 20th.  It is not entirely up to the municipality, however, and the Israeli Transportation Ministry must now approve or reject the decision.

The Transportation Ministry has already told local media that the Tel Aviv Municipality’s decision violates the “status quo” of the balance of power between the religious and the secular regarding public domain issues.

Tamar Zandberg, a member of the Tel Aviv City Council, said that “it should have happened years ago, but because of political arrangements it was taboo and no one would discuss it, which is absurd.”

Tel Aviv’s Chief Rabbi, Israel Meir Lau, feels differently and wrote to Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai that “this decision taints the history of Tel Aviv, which was founded 103 years ago as the first Hebrew city.  [The vote is] a severe blow to the sanctity of Shabbat – a day of spiritual uplifting and rest for all workers.”

The decision has neither been approved nor rejected yet, and it remains to be seen whether buses will grace Tel Aviv’s Saturday streets.

:: Forward

Read more about public transportation around the Middle East:
Fast Forward Asks, “What is the Best Mode for Public Transportation in Lebanon?”
Public Transportation Takes Flight in Dubai
Public Transportation Day 2008: Still Stuck in Traffic

Image via: zeevveez

The post Public Transportation on Tel Aviv’s Sabbath: Ecologically Smart or Defiling Religious Law? appeared first on Green Prophet.

People waiting for the bus on a hot day in Cyprus will soon be able to purchase cold water from a solar powered vending machine.

A few weeks ago Cyprus received the distinction of being the world leader of solar water heater users per capita.  Now it is making strides in cold water as well.  A Spanish-based entrepreneur is in the process of distributing solar powered vending machines that sell cold bottles of water along bus routes in Cyprus, thus quenching the thirst of eco-friendly Cypriot transportation users in a more environmentally sustainable way.

(It could also, of course, quench the thirst of anyone who just finished eating a local pickled songbird dish.)

The vending machines work on a coaxial cooling system, which requires no cooling plate and can be recycled.  This form of cooling is more energy efficient since the products are cooled directly, instead of the air around them.

The solar powered component of the machines means that they are efficient coolers in even the hottest countries.

An agreement has already been reached with the national bus company in Cyprus, stating that the solar powered vending machines will be installed on select routes that have large passenger volume.

The entrepreneur leasing the machines hopes that this idea will spread all over the Middle East and be adopted outside of Cyprus.

Read more about Cyprus:
Solar Water Heaters Give Free Hot Water From Cyprus Rooftops
1 Million Migrating Songbirds are Killed for Pickled Dish in Cyprus
Cypriot Law Threatens to Discourage Cycling

The post Solar Powered Vending Machines Along Cyprus’ Bus Routes appeared first on Green Prophet.

Based on algorithms – a pay scale depending on home many drivers are using the road – Tel Aviv’s “Fast Lane” which was opened for use in early 2011 and designed to reduce traffic flow from super congested Highway 1 is now being termed as a big success according to local newspapers. The one lane bypass, which is actually a toll lane, is now being used by hundreds of cars daily. These users  pay tolls ranging from about $5 to $15 US depending on the time of day. A great feature is that it includes free parking and a shuttle bus to inside the city.

Highway 1, the main highway artery heading into Tel Aviv from both Ben Gurion Airport and cities like Jerusalem and Modi’in is one of Israel’s most congested highways. Traffic on this highway during morning rush hours is literally bumper to bumper, while the fast lane enables drivers to bypass this section and reach Tel Aviv in only a few minutes.

For drivers entering the city daily to work, and those on company business, paying the toll is usually reimbursed by employers. For self employed persons, the fee is an allowable travel expense.

The fast lane also includes the option for drivers parking their cars in a large parking lot at the lane’s entrance and then taking a shuttle bus into the city. This option in itself eliminates hundreds of cars being on the highway going into Tel Aviv and on city streets as well; thereby reducing some of the city’s pollution in a city where free radicals can cause brain damage to joggers and bike riders .

The fast lane is part of other projects currently underway to reduce traffic congestion on Israel’s streets and highways. The Cross Israel Highway, otherwise known as Highway 6, is helping to reduce traffic congestion for cars traveling on the coastal highways. Known in Hebrew as Kvish Shesh, it is the country’s first toll road.

Another idea to reduce Tel Aviv traffic congestion during morning rush hours was a decision to ban large trucks going into the city during the rush hours. This ordinance was to have gone into affect in 2010, but as yet has not due to many objections. A light rail line, similar to the one now in Jerusalem, is being planned for Tel Aviv. If completed, it hopes to further eliminate pollution and traffic congestion; especially that caused by too many city buses in use.

The “park and ride” option currently in use with the Fast Lane is also in use by cities in other parts of the world.

The idea for the fast lane is the brainchild of Nitzan Yotzer, head of operations at the government company Trans-Israel Highway, which is also the supervisory authority for Highway 6, the fast lane, and the Carmel Tunnel as well (Israel’s first toll tunnel).

Nitzan told Haaretz: “The infrastructure in the greater Tel Aviv area can’t keep up with the growing volume of traffic.”

More on Tel Aviv traffic congestion:
Tel Aviv’s Fast Lane for Safety and the Environment
Free Radicals Attack Your Brain on Bikes in Polluted Cities
Tel Aviv Will Ban Trucks During Morning Rush Hour to Reduce Congestion

The post Tel Aviv Fast Lane A Success for this Writer appeared first on Green Prophet.

The futuristic city of Dubai is often hailed as the showcase of the Arabian Gulf. Dubai  has many attractions including the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building and so big that it needs a huge waste disposal vehicle to periodically remove accumulated human waste, 13 tons daily, from its more than 160 floors. Dubai has other architectural and geological wonders, including its seven star ultra luxurious icon, the Burj al Arab Hotel, where each suite comes with a personal butler to cater to the guest’s every whim and desire. Now poor folks and eco-minded ones too, can visit these extravagant wonders by bus.

A Dubai night tour view of Burj al Arab luxury hotel

Dubai has grown so big that it now has a special bus service the Big Bus Tours, that began in London in 1991 by the Maybury family and began its operation in Dubai in 2002. In Dubai alone, the company has a fleet of 46 double decker  open top tour buses that more closely resemble those iconic open top red buses in cities like London England and Barcelona Spain where this writer recently did some eco touring.

All electric Superbus: only interurban now

The tour buses featured on the Big Bus Tours website, they are not at all like a  new transportation innovation that is  due to begin operation in the UAE , the  super luxurious, all electric Superbus.

Resembling a futuristic stretch-limo and driven by a hot blond (at least in the promo) the Superbus will take up to 23 passengers on a  luxurious fast-track route between Dubai and neighboring Abu Dhabi at speeds up to 240 km her hour.

In fact, this new vehicle that was innovated and built in the Netherlands was recently test driven at Abu Dhabi’s new carbon neutral residential and commercial habitation project Masdar City. When in full operation, it will whisk passengers to and from the two modern mega cites in only half an hour.

World’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, another tour icon site

But now, back to the Big Bus Tours and their double-decker tour buses, on which visitors can see all of Dubai’s attractions; including the Jumeirah Mosque, the Gold Souk, and the even more luxurious Atlantis on the Palm hotel, where suites costs as much as $25,000 a night.

Fares for the Big Bus tours are $60 for adults, $27 for children and $147 for a family ticket (a family of 4 , I assume) for a 24 hour “hop on – hop off” ticket that also includes admission prices to some of the tour sites including an Arabian Dhow Cruise on Dubai Creek, entry to the Dubai Museum, and entry to Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum’s House, said to be very special and unique.

From a green standpoint, these Dubai tour buses burn diesel oil and are not good for touring during the daytime in Dubai’s scorching hot summers, where only in the evening or at night can people sit on the upper deck; although part of the upper deck is enclosed and air conditioned.

The night tours are special in their own right; due to the special lighting of Dubai’s  many futuristic buildings and special fountains, which themselves are more like sound and light shows.

At present, there are no electric buses in Dubai’s Big Bus fleet; but perhaps that idea is on the drawing board. In the meantime, tourists who visit both Dubai and Abu Dhabi will have the option of taking the all electric Superbus between cities – if they can afford the fare.

Read more on Dubai’s attractions and on the all electric Superbus:

Oversize load: Poop from Burj Khalifa, the World’s Tallest Building

An Ant in Dubai

Electric Superbus Tested in Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City

Ride the Abu Dhabi Stretch Limo Superbus

The post Dubai Does Big Bus Tours appeared first on Green Prophet.

Announced with much fanfare, the plans to build an new bus transit in Jordan have been quietly shelved pending further review

Back in early 2011, the Jordanian government announced that it would be building a new impressive bus transit aimed at reducing congestion along Amman’s busiest routes. The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) plans entailed operating high-capacity buses on segregated lanes that could carry more than 120 passengers and run on a three-minute frequency during peak hours. It was seen as a huge leap towards better public transport in the city but the recent suspension of these plans – without much explanation and one year before their planned inauguration – hasn’t been well received.

Protesters Take To Street Against Suspension of Bus Plans

Around a month ago, around 50 young Jordanians staged a protest against the decision to suspend the bus transit plans. They brought along an ‘express donkey’ to their demonstration at a lane established in the early stages of the bus project. Speaking to the Jordan Times, one protester said, “I was really glad when GAM [Greater Amman Municipality] announced the idea. Insufficient public transport is one of the main problems we face and we thought this issue would be resolved with the BRT.”

The bus plans have been suspended by the Jordanian cabinet until a government committee entrusted with reviewing the project completes feasibility plans. The committee however has already agreed that Amman would benefit from a specialised public transport system and some have suggested that corruption has played a role in the delay. The project has been financed by the French Development Agency to the tune of JD166 million.

Poor Economy or Corruption Behind Delay?

The state of the economy also appears to be hindering the project. Writing for Ammon News, Yusuf Mansur said, “Major economic decisions have been swinging back and forth, and there is fear and paranoia in the public sector. Instead of continuing the work of previous cabinets, important projects such as the BRT (Bus Rapid Transport) was first canned, days later placed under scrutiny, and then went into hiatus or limbo. Now we don’t know if it is coming or going.”

Amman has been criticised in the past due to its poor public transport and lack of pedestrian facilities. It was hoped that these bus plans along with recent success of expanding the sidewalks would encourage further action. Following recent protest in the Middle East demanding better public transport, let’s hope that governments start paying more attention and taking the demands of their citizens more seriously.

:: Jordan Times

: Image via Noura Salem/Flickr.

For more on public transport in Jordan see:

Middle East Joins Worldwide Campaign For Greener Transport (Photo)

How Benches and Sidewalks Could Transform The Middle East

Jordan’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Set For 2012 Inauguration

A Miserable Walk Through Amman

Keeping Public Trains On Track

The post Jordan’s Ambitious Bus Plans Get Shelved appeared first on Green Prophet.