According to a recent TripAdvisor(TM) survey of more than 2,000 travelers globally, London has the best public transportation system and best taxis in the world. London was also regarded by the panel as having the most overpriced public transportation system in the world. According to the respondents, New York City has the best public transportation system in the U.S., and second worldwide. However, the Big Apple was voted as having the worst taxis in the world.

Washington, D.C., has the cleanest and safest public transit, according to the worldwide panel of travelers, while Los Angeles has the worst public transportation system.

Public Transit Appeal

Seventy-one percent of travelers said they use public transportation while vacationing in a city away from home, and 19 percent said they use it to commute to work. Nearly three-quarters of survey respondents said a city's public transportation system is a consideration when determining where to visit. Forty percent of travelers said the most important quality of a transportation system is that it goes everywhere they need to go, which was considered even more important than safety (30 percent.)

Majority of Travelers "Taken for a Ride"

When asked if a taxi driver has ever taken them on a longer or incorrect route to increase the cab fare, 58 percent of travelers claim to have been ripped off by a taxi.

Impact of Rising Fuel Cost, Terror Threats

Fourteen percent of travelers said that the recent rise in fuel prices has inspired them to use public transportation more often, while nine percent said they avoid using public transit because of recent concerns about terrorist threats.

"Despite being considered the most expensive public transportation system, it's intriguing that London was also voted best transportation system in the world by travelers," said Michele Perry, director of communications for TripAdvisor(TM). "The fact that nearly 75 percent of travelers take public transit into consideration when planning their trips suggests that a quality system is of great importance to a city's tourism industry, not just its commuters."

  Top Five Public Transportation Systems in the World:
   1. London
   2. New York City
   3. Paris
   4. Washington, D.C.
   5. Hong Kong

  Worst Public Transportation System in the World:
  Los Angeles

  Most Overpriced Public Transportation in the World:
  London

  Safest Public Transportation System in the World:
  Washington, D.C.

  Cleanest Public Transportation System in the World:
  Washington, D.C.

  Best Taxis in the World:
  London

  Worst Taxis in the World:
  New York City

  About TripAdvisor LLC

TripAdvisor.com(TM) is the largest travel community in the world, with more than 5 million unbiased reviews and opinions, covering 220,000+ hotels and attractions. TripAdvisor(TM) is one of the most visited travel web domains worldwide, featuring real advice from real travelers and easy access to major online travel sites, including Expedia.com(R), Orbitz, Hotels.com(R) and American Airlines, for great deals. TripAdvisor(TM), which operates sites in the U.S. (http://www.tripadvisor.com/ ) and in the U.K. (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ ) provides travel suppliers a graphical advertising and cost-per-click marketing platform. Winner of dozens of awards, including PC Magazine's Top 100 Web Sites and Forbes Best of the Web, TripAdvisor(TM) is an operating company of Expedia, Inc. .

"TripAdvisor" and "TripAdvisor.com" are trademarks or registered trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries of TripAdvisor LLC. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE: TripAdvisor LLC