Transportation Blog

I remember a China where the streets were full of bicycles. I remember peddling in virtual seas of thousands of other cyclists, how rush hour was a critical mass of bicycles zooming every which way, where bike lanes became roaring highways. The bicycle was the top commuter vehicle in the country, and there were hundreds of [...]

The taxi driver is perhaps a natural predator of the traveler. They stand above us on the food chain right up there with pickpockets, money changers, and touts. It is for this reason that I get into taxi cabs a touch on guard — I make sure the driver knows that I know where I’m going, that [...]

One of the first words I learned here is “Pirate” which is pronounced “Pee-RAH-tuh” in Spanish. It means a truck that carries passengers for money. Since riding in the back of a pickup is now illegal in most of the US, pirates are a chance to do something I last did as a kid. Plus, [...]

Colombian destinations are easily reached by the extensive bus routes throughout the country. Annoying for many budget travelers, the bus stations are often located a distance from the city, forcing you to take another local bus or taxi into the city center. The bus stations are set up with various company’s offices. A traveler then [...]

This is an outline of a Copetran bus line scam that is pulled on tourists wanting to travel from San Gil to Santa Marta, Colombia. When you make your purchase to travel this route on Copetran you are given a ticke that says “Santa Marta” — exactly as it should — with the info that [...]

Transportation in Senegal There are many modern transportation options available in Senegal, and travelers should not find them unfamiliar. Taxis, buses, and trains are the most common ways of getting around. Taxis There are a number of taxis in Dakar, and this is a relatively inexpensive and convenient way to get around the city. It [...]

MONGUI, Colombia- The rounds of the traveler communities in Colombia says that you can barter for the price of your bus tickets, and this is true. Each time you go to step foot on a full sized bus you can often come out with a 25 to 40%  discount on your fare. If you can’t [...]

South Korea has one of the cheapest, most convenient and efficient public transportation systems in the world. Because the country is so small, you will find it neither difficult nor expensive to travel from one end of the peninsula to the other. Travel is, of course, easiest within major metropolitan cities like Seoul or Busan.

New Zealand has a well connected and timely public transportation network with bus services, passenger trains and a ferry service connecting the North Island to the South Island. Using these services as a means of transportation is relatively expensive when you’re traveling in a country as safe as New Zealand, and hitchhiking seems to be [...]