Hi, I’m Kian McCabe! I’m a senior psychology student and I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain in the spring of 2022. During my time abroad I traveled to 11 countries and I am now a part of the Study Abroad Rambassador Program (SARP).
As someone who has been lucky enough to have a driver’s license and a car since I was 16, not having access to one when studying abroad for 4 months was something that made me nervous. I was worried about how it would affect my time management, organization, and my independence. I could not just get into a car and drive off wherever I wanted to anymore, and that was something to get used to.
Throughout my time studying and traveling in Europe I took almost every form of public transportation. Bus, metro trains, commuter trains, Ubers, taxis, electric scooters, bikes, etc. I have compiled some of the things I learned while using public transport in my everyday life.
- Public Transport is used more in Europe than in United States
Out of all my friends and family in the United States, I can count on one hand the amount of people I know who do not own or have a car or a driver’s license. In Europe, many people go their whole lives without learning how to drive. Compared to Boston and the MBTA there are many more options in Europe that are cheaper and faster to use in everyday life. Cities have invested a lot of time and money to make their systems good for their citizens. European cities such as Paris, Madrid, London, Stockholm have some of the highest-ranking metro systems in the world. The Madrid Metro has 13 main subway lines with almost 300 stations and over 2 million passengers a day. Learning how to navigate these systems can make your life abroad easier and more efficient.
- The Madrid Metro System is fast and cheap
For people under the age of 25, the metro is €20 for 30 days with unlimited rides if you order a transportation card. This card also gets you access to the buses in the city, the commuter rail line (Cercanías), and the airport. It is also clean and reliable, the trains run every 3-5 minutes and are open from 6 am-1:30 am. In my four months of taking the metro almost every day, a train I was on was only taken out of service once. Within a 15–20-minute walk from campus there are 5 stations on 4 different metro lines. Even if you do not plan on taking the metro often, I recommend getting the card anyway because it is very budget friendly.
- Buses are your friend
Before I went abroad, I never took the bus, but I tried to be better and learn how to use the bus system. The one thing I had to learn is that you must wave down the bus for it to stop for you in some places, which was something I had to get used to. I also learned that some buses in different cities only take coins. Taking the bus more often saved me time walking and it also gave me a chance to look around the city more and see new neighborhoods that I would not see on an underground train.
- Some cities use the honor system
Not every transportation system makes you tap a card and insert a ticket every time you use it like in Boston or Madrid, however, transportation is usually never free (except in Luxembourg). So, if you do not see a ticket or card reader in a station or on a bus then they probably use an honor system. For example, in Munich, Germany most stations have a ticket validation system but it is not a barrier and in Dublin when you use the streetcar system (Luas) you are supposed to tap your card or stamp your ticket when you get off the stop but there is no gate that is stopping you from walking away. This is great because it saves you time, however if you are caught without a ticket, you could be fined so, please buy a ticket.
- Ride shares are cheaper and more regulated.
Taxis and ride share apps are super cheap in many cities throughout Europe. There are also many different options such as Uber, Taxis, Free Now, etc. These apps are also highly regulated and have safety features installed within the apps. However, like most places, the prices can rise significantly if there is a major event going on or going to/from the airport or train stations so be aware of this. Tip: In Madrid when I would come home from the airport and did not want to take the metro the whole ride home, I would take metro two stops to Mar de Cristal and the price of an Uber would decrease from €25.00 to €7.00.
- Research
When learning how to navigate transportation in any country it is important to do your research. Every time I traveled from Madrid to another city, I would research how I was going to get from the airport to my hotel or the city center. For example, the DaVinci express in Rome, the Dublin Express in Dublin, or the RATP in Paris. This made it easier for me to get off the plane and get to my planned activities faster. Also, not every system is perfect, transportation systems in Europe are known for having a lot of labor strikes so do research ahead of time to make sure you do not run into any delays.
- It is ok if you mess up!
I am the first to admit that I have gotten on the wrong train or the wrong bus more than once and although that can be annoying and/or upsetting try and make the most of it. Do not be afraid to ask for help or directions, go to somewhere you recognize, and google things if needed. One of my first weeks in Madrid I wanted to go to Retiro and read my book in the park, but I accidentally got on the wrong train and ended up on the other side of the city. But, instead of freaking out and turning around, I got off a random stop and ended up finding a small park to read in and I went back there a few times throughout the semester.
- Apps!
There are so many apps that can help navigate your way around during your study abroad experience. Here are a few of my favorites!
- Uber
- FreeNow
- Omio
- Lime
- BiciMAD-EMT Madrid (City Bikes Madrid)
- MVG Fahrinfo München (Munich Public Transport)
- Official Metro de Madrid
By: Kian McCabe