The ISA JournalAlumni Perspectives – Realities of Public Transit in Europe

Margaret Blower is an ISA London alumna and Global Ambassador at Millersville University. In this blog, she shares her best tips on mastering the public transit system in Europe.

I went into studying abroad having some experience with public transportation: spending days in cities like New York City and on vacation in Europe helped me grasp the basics of the system. However, the realities of it on a day-to-day basis can be frustrating at times. Thankfully, the process of learning how to use it was made easier through the help of ISA. The on-site staff helped us get to the nearest grocery stores and train stations, learn which local buses went which direction, and taught us how to use the system in general. I ultimately had to master it simply by using it, and I learned a lot of small but useful information that is good to know beforehand! 

First, maps will be your best friend.

Apps such as Citymapper or Apple/Google Maps are essential when traveling. Citymapper is ideal for transit in larger cities (such as Glasgow, Paris, Milan, etc.) but it is also restricted to those cities. It was my go-to app in London because it shows approximate arrival times, is very user friendly, and would adjust to your location if you traveled to another city they cover. I personally used Apple Maps for shorter distances, walking or biking, and trips in cities outside of the ones on Citymapper. Whichever map app you are the most comfortable with in your home country is the one that you should use when you go abroad, as you will already be accustomed to it, and it saves you from learning yet another new app when you go abroad. 

Especially in the global cities, maps of the underground system look complicated, but once you understand how the system works you are all set. It was helpful to learn which train lines were which color or letter, and if you know where you are and where you are going, all you need to do is follow the right line to get where you want to go! 

Public transportation in Europe is amazing… almost all of the time. 

Like all systems, public transportation in European countries is an essential resource that everyone from tourists to everyday commuters can benefit from. However, there are some reality checks that I had while living there. My advice? Patience. 

Everything can feel so chaotic, from people moving as a swarm to a singular platform to the person with the bad breath packed in with you like sardines on the train. Though you may want to shout at the person stepping on your toes, a deep breath, a small movement, and clearing your throat is often enough to solve the problem without creating a tense situation that lasts until one of you gets off at your destination. 

Delays are another fact of life when using transit, though they usually only occur during rush hour or when something serious enough to cause a delay has happened. One of my photos shows the delays from when a train hit a grocery cart/trolley on the tracks, and they had to send mechanics to detangle it! It caused delays up and down the line, but I had a book to read and lots of patience, and everything turned out alright at the end of the day. 

Planning your trips around strikes and rush hours may seem inconvenient, but it will save you time, energy, and occasionally money! Some cities have policies that mean traveling during peak periods (7-9am and 4-6pm) is more expensive, so changing the timing for tasks such as shopping or appointments is a simple way to make things easier. 

Traveling will not be boring if you come prepared. 

Underground train journeys can take sometimes take a few minutes, while some long-distance trains can take several hours. You will always find people who bring books, newspapers, or crosswords to occupy themselves on their journeys, especially when cell service is spotty or even nonexistent. Iconic bookstores such as Waterstones always have a massive selection of books to choose from, and I personally loved to read about historical figures while on the way to visit the beautiful places they inhabited centuries ago! 

Aside from things to do, I also brought snacks (I loved granola bars, biscuits, and fruit) and mints if I knew I was going to be somewhere for a few hours but did not want to spend money on food while I was out. Make sure you are being respectful of the type, mess, or smell of food while traveling. You do not want to be the person who spills a bowl of soup on the train! 

I became known as the “mom friend” in the group because in my tote-sized purse I would always carry snacks as well as essentials such as a portable charger, bottle of water, Band-aids, Chapstick, hand sanitizer and lotion, and whatever else we needed that day. I found having these things to be helpful not only for myself, but for friends who might need something. Traveling in cold weather is always nicer when you can wipe your nose with a tissue or pull out your hand warmers! 

The best way to learn it is to use it. 

My last tip is to not fear public transportation! Yes, you will make mistakes, but you will learn from them and eventually it will be second nature for you. A motto I used frequently was: “At the end of the day, I will get to where I need to go.” I must have gone to dozens of different stations during my time in Europe, many of them only once or twice – navigating around massive platforms with signs in languages I did not speak could be intimidating. Knowing that I was going to get to my destination eventually brought me a sense of certainty: even if I missed a train, or the journey is delayed, there will be a way for me to get where I need to go. 

Thankfully, the flow of people who know what they are doing can often indicate where platforms or exits are at a station. More importantly, using clues such as symbols (i.e., toilets, train platforms, letters and numbers) as well as researching the public transportation system in the places you go to is vital! 

Ending with a story 

I already loved the concept of transit before I studied abroad and using it as my only way to get around helped me appreciate it that much more. I found a freedom in not having to drive myself everywhere and could even work on my list of groceries while on the way to the store! Once you get past the initial learning curve, it will feel normal to you as well. 

I want to finish with a funny but true story: at my university in London, there was a specific bus number that could take you to the nearest tube station and supermarket, and we used it constantly. It became a staple in our daily lives, and we would talk about how much we would miss taking this bus when we left.. and one of my friends decided that she never wanted to forget it and got the number of the bus tattooed on her leg! 

Curious to hear more from ISA/TEAN alumni? Read more blogs from England or explore other Alumni posts.