FAQ
What is a metro/subway?
'Metro' and 'subway' are used synonymously here. Metro systems can move people within cities more efficiently than any other means of transport. A striking feature is that they often run in tunnels and stop at underground stations. Hidden from view, like the arteries of a living organism, they keep the big cities alive. The dense skyscraper districts of modern cities couldn't exist without metros.
A popular definition from [urbanrail.net] defines a metro as
- an urban electric mass rail transport system, i.e. it is primarily used to move within the city,
- totally independent from other traffic, rail or street traffic,
- providing high-frequency service (maximum interval approximately 10 minutes during normal daytime service).
However, definitions of what a metro is can vary according to who you ask. Furthermore, the differences between heavy rail, metros, and trams are increasingly fading since the middle of the 20th century, as many metros or light rails have gradually evolved from trams or regional rail lines, and new hybrid trains are able to interconnect different systems. This makes it sometimes difficult to decide whether a rail line should be counted as a metro or not.
Call it metro or subway or what?
The name of the subject is kind of problematic. For urban rail transit, the word metro is used in most cities around the world while subway is mainly American usage. But it would be too easy if there weren't exceptions. Transit systems in Washington and Los Angeles call themselves Metro, while Glasgow in Scotland officially has a Subway. In transcripts, subway is also used in Japan and South Korea, as American English is predominant over British English there, but metro is used in other parts of Asia. And of course do many cities or countries have their own terms, for example Underground or Tube (in London), MRT (in several Asian cities standing for mass rapid transit), U-Bahn (in Germany and Austria), T-Bane (in Sweden and Norway), Subte (in Buenos Aires).
Ambiguity also adds to the naming chaos. In America, the word metro usually is short for 'metropolitan area', while in British English, a subway is a pedestrian underpass.
Conclusion for Metro Bits: since metro and subway are likewise widely in use and ambiguous, both terms will be used in a lively mixture more or less randomly throughout the website, also as a courtesy to search engine users.
How to take photos underground?
- A photography permit may be required, metro companies will usually issue one for free. Some cities have banned photography in metros after 2001, but some of them have again dropped the bans later. Even New York City's MTA has completely dropped its photography ban on 23 May 2005 after massive protests of photographer associations and civil rights groups, and now explicitly permits taking photos and videos in subway stations and on trains [nppa.org], [mta.info].
- Avoid using a flash. It bothers train drivers and makes photos dull.
- Lights may be dim in underground stations. The use of tripods is often restricted to prevent obstruction. If not using a tripod, select your camera's 'burst' mode and shoot some five pictures in a row. One or two of them will probably be sharp enough for most purposes. Some stations also have furniture or ledges where a camera can rest on, either on its own or on an inconspicious pocket-sized tripod.
- Despite every metro's aim is transporting as many people as possible, flocks of passengers can spoil the best architectural photo compositions. On early Sunday mornings there may be fewer passengers around (so I've been told...)
Can I have a larger version of this photo?
Please take a look at the metro wallpapers section or send an email to  .
How safe are metros?
Basically, safer than road traffic. Of course, as in every place where a lot of people gather, pickpockets or robbers are likely to operate (look here for some stories). Metros in some cities are safer than in others. Generally, metros are safe, so the following suggestions are only for the paranoid:
- Store your valuables in a safe place. The back pocket of your pants is not safe enough for a wallet.
- In areas of a city which are known to be unsafe (like The Bronx in New York), the metro, especially the stations, should also be avoided.
- The safest place to ride is in the first carriage because there is the driver (if it's not driverless).
- Don't look like a tourist. Hide camera, maps, dictionary etc. from view, don't puzzle over the subway maps in trains or stations too obviously.
- Driverless metros are even safer than traditional ones. They are securely monitored and none of them ever had a serious accident.
Unfortunately, subway systems are vulnerable potential targets for terrorist attacks, as are airports, shopping malls or other places with lots of people. The most serious attacks on metros have been:
- Mumbai (Bombay), 11 July 2006: seven bombs detonated in first-class compartments of the local suburban railway and resulted in 207 dead and 714 injured. An eighth bomb could be defused. Lashkar-e-Qahhar, an Islamic group linked to al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility [wikipedia.org].
- London, 7 July 2005: Islamic suicide bombers set off explosions on three underground trains and one bus almost simultaneously, resulting in 52 dead and 700 injured [wikipedia.org]. This was followed by four attempted bomb attacks two weeks later with only one person injured.
- Madrid, 11 March 2004: ten explosions in four Cercanias suburban metro trains killed 191 people and wounded 1460. Islamic extremists were found to be responsible [wikipedia.org].
- Moscow, 6 February 2004: a suicide bomber from Karachay-Cherkessia (a republic in the Russian Federation) killed 42 and wounded 250 on a line 2 metro train [wikipedia.org].
- Tokyo, 20 March 1995: the Aum cult sect released sarin, a chemical warfare gas, on several Tokyo subway trains, causing 12 fatal casualties and 5000 injured [cfrterrorism.org], [wikipedia.org].
The danger of terrorist attacks on metro systems persists, but probability theory indicates that chances to get involved are extremely low, considering the number of passengers (over 1 billion in London for instance). Compared to driving an automobile, using a metro is a much safer option.
Updated 21 Feb 2010.
Feedback
This page: http://www.mic-ro.com/metro/faq.html
© 2004-2010 metrobits.org
Home —
Fact Sheets —
World Metro Database —
Metro Arts & Architecture —
Metro Logos —
Resources —
Forum —
About
|
Printer-friendly