Regional and Urban Design Committee

Transit and "cool" would not have been used in the same breath until recently. Lately, though, getting around in "share mode" has, indeed, become cool and many cities boast cool transit innovations. Here a short sampler:

Cool transit exists

Copenhagen's subway glides driverless through the tunnels of the Danish capital and the tracks are separated from the platform with glass doors as we know it from airport shuttles. The Hongkong metro has glass walls on the platforms as well plus 3G coverage in tunnels and an "Octapus" smart card that can be used for transit fare, fast food and parking meters

Copenhagen's automated subway (photo: ArchPlan)

Portland OR, cable car link (Photo: ArchPlan)

Santiago de Chile's subway is one long multi articulated vehicle in which you can walk from front to back and on a straight stretch you can see the driver from all the way back

Moscow subway (Creative Commons)

St Gallen (CH), double articulated bus (Creative Commons) Stuttgart subway station with daylight and natural ventilation (photo: ArchPlan)

Stuttgart's new light rail tunnel stations often have an open section allowing daylight and natural ventilation. Tickets are good for any of dozens of transit providers on all modes in the region.