Mind the gap

In last week’s edition of The Economist, “Stuck in a Tunnel” makes a uniquely British assumption: That London transport is terrible. This is a common starting point for any article on London’s transport system, but it is far from deserved. London’s transport system is one of the most comprehensive and dependable in the world.  The Tube shuttles ...

In last week's edition of The Economist, "Stuck in a Tunnel" makes a uniquely British assumption: That London transport is terrible. This is a common starting point for any article on London's transport system, but it is far from deserved. London's transport system is one of the most comprehensive and dependable in the world. 

In last week’s edition of The Economist, “Stuck in a Tunnel” makes a uniquely British assumption: That London transport is terrible. This is a common starting point for any article on London’s transport system, but it is far from deserved. London’s transport system is one of the most comprehensive and dependable in the world. 

The Tube shuttles all classes of workers back and forth every day in cars that remain astonishingly clean despite legal permission to eat and drink on the trains. The 24-hour bus system is safe deep into the night and runs surprisingly on-time. Furthermore, the system runs in five to ten minute intervals – a far cry from the 19 minute waits for the DC metro outside of rush hour, and the endless wait for any sort of DC bus. Despite a lack of air conditioning in London’s mostly moderate climate, and the most expensive transport ticket in the world (the cheapest cash fare for the tube is $7.45), the system provides a stellar example of integrated public transport that fully alleviates any justification for driving a car – even to far-flung destinations. With the exception of New York, no American city can claim such a network. As threats of pollution and global warming become ever more real, a more appropriate starting point would be to acknowledge how effective London’s transport system is in attracting users, which makes overcrowding something to be applauded rather than hated.

More from Foreign Policy

Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.
Newspapers in Tehran feature on their front page news about the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, signed in Beijing the previous day, on March, 11 2023.

Saudi-Iranian Détente Is a Wake-Up Call for America

The peace plan is a big deal—and it’s no accident that China brokered it.

Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.
Austin and Gallant stand at podiums side by side next to each others' national flags.

The U.S.-Israel Relationship No Longer Makes Sense

If Israel and its supporters want the country to continue receiving U.S. largesse, they will need to come up with a new narrative.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin lays flowers at the Moscow Kremlin Wall in the Alexander Garden during an event marking Defender of the Fatherland Day in Moscow.

Putin Is Trapped in the Sunk-Cost Fallacy of War

Moscow is grasping for meaning in a meaningless invasion.

An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.
An Iranian man holds a newspaper reporting the China-brokered deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore ties, in Tehran on March 11.

How China’s Saudi-Iran Deal Can Serve U.S. Interests

And why there’s less to Beijing’s diplomatic breakthrough than meets the eye.