Taking the subway is a common activity for many people, but some users still have difficulties or have never taken the subway, a means of urban transport that circulates on tracks.
Large cities in the world have the metro as the main and most efficient passenger transport, and on continents like Europe it is possible to find it even in smaller cities, thanks to the immense coverage in several countries of the Old Continent.
In Brazil, only a few cities have subways. They are: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Salvador, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Brasília, Brasília, Fortaleza, Santos, Teresina, Maceió, João Pessoa, Natal, Sobral and Juazeiro do Norte.
When did people start riding the subway?
The metro is considered as the main and most efficient passenger transport (Photo: depositphotos)
The tube appeared in the early 19th century in London . The capital of England at that time had a chaotic traffic and full of carriages. To give you an idea, the traditional double-decker buses that are the city’s trademark were already drawn to horses. Can you believe?
Seeing this chaotic situation, Charles Pearson created the underground train for London. With that, he solved two simultaneous problems: the lack of space on public roads and precarious transportation. The work was coordinated by engineer John Fowle r and put into practice by 3,500 workers. For this, the tunnel was dug below the broadest streets in the city.
The engineering that led to the signature of Charles Pearson and John Fowler was completed on January 10, 1863. The first subways were powered by steam and the accumulation of gases ended up causing discomfort among users. Therefore, during its development, some parts of the tunnels were left without cover, in the open, to facilitate ventilation.
It was only in 1890, when electricity emerged, that ventilation problems were resolved. As a result, the London Underground became the most popular form of transport in the English capital.
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Initially, the line was only 6.5 kilometers long and consisted of two classes: one for the more affluent and another for the city’s poor population. The stretches between the center and Paddington were the first, but other variations would soon appear and the ticket started to get cheaper.
In 1900, just 10 years after the first leg, London already had seven lines and 84 stations .
In a few years, European cities were also inspired by London to implement their rail network, such as the capital of France, Paris; Berlin, Germany; and Budapest, Hungary.
How to ride the subway
Currently, the metro is more than consolidated as an efficient, safe and fast means of transport . There are many variations of this type of locomotion and you need to know how to ride the subway to get on well in everyday life, whether in your city or when you are traveling.
Tickets
The first thing is to buy the access ticket . Generally, cities offer single, integrated tickets that can be used on both buses and subways for a given time, regardless of how many trips are made.
For example, the single ticket that is valid for two hours. In that time interval, you can board as many stations as you like, just respect the time limit established.
In some cities, there are ATMs where tickets can be purchased. In others, it is necessary to go to the windows with attendants.
Turnstiles
Then, you must observe the signposts and pass your metro ticket through the turnstile readers to access the boarding areas of the stations.
Destiny
After that, just choose which direction to go. The subway only goes in one direction, so it is essential that you know which direction you are going to take in order not to take the opposite direction to your destination. For example:
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You are at Paulista in São Paulo and want to go to Pinheiros. Therefore, you have to take the subway that goes to Vila Sônia and not the one that goes to Luz station, as it is in the opposite direction.
But if that happens, there is no problem: just get off at the next station, look for the opposite side and get on board, as different from buses, there is no driver or collector at each boarding gate.
Stops
Ah, another difference is that the metro must stop at all stations , you don’t have to ask for a stop . In some cars it is only necessary to press a button for the door to open. In others, they open naturally throughout the season.
You should always keep your train ticket for as long as it is valid for possible transfers, especially in some cities in Europe, where there are no turnstiles. Thus, you must present your ticket to the inspectors, in case you are approached by one and are asked.
If you need to make multiple transfers to reach your destination, be careful not to leave the station, as you will have to pay another ticket.
Practical tips for riding the subway
When entering the car, do not stand near the door (Photo: depositphotos)
– Try to facilitate change when buying your tickets. In some cities, payments in kind are only accepted if you do not need change;
– There is always an information sector . Consult it if necessary;
– Many maps of the stations are available, both on paper and on the walls of the stations;
– The largest subways in the world already offer mobile applications with complete mapping. You can use them both online and offline ;
– While waiting for the subway at the station, respect the yellow safety line painted on the floor;
– Preferably wait for the subway away from the lines to prevent objects from falling or having an accident yourself ;
– Your ticket is valid for any car . Therefore, there is no specific door for you to go up or down;
– When entering the car, do not stand near the door . She needs to be free for people to get in and out of the cars;
– Just like on buses, there are chairs in each car that are intended for the elderly and the disabled . Respect them;
– Generally, inside the cars there is an internal sound system where the stations are announced;
– When there is no sound, there is always a map above the door indicating which stations this subway passes. Some even turn on small lights to indicate the next stop;
– If you are going to take the subway for the first time, skip the peak hours so you have time to understand how this type of public transport works and take it less crowded.
