Lewis BarbaraWhen you arrive at your new place of residence, you will need to find out how you can easily get from one place to another. Many people in the United States drive their own cars, but buying a car requires a lot of money that you may not have at first. Most communities have one or more forms of public transportation that you can use to get to your resettlement agency, your place of work (once you are employed), and to stores, banks, and other community services. Learning how to use public transport to get safely to where you want and need to go is an important first step in adjusting to your new place of residence. Your resettlement agency will provide you with information about local public transport shortly after your arrival.
Public transportation in the United States varies from place to place. In some places it can take you almost everywhere you need to go. In other places, it may run only occasionally or may not be available at all.
The most common forms of public transportation in the United States are buses, subways, and commuter trains. They usually run on a schedule and stop at specific, designated places to pick up or drop off passengers. In most cases, to use public transport you will need to buy a ticket in advance or pay for the trip at the time of boarding. Sometimes it is required to have the exact amount of money (without change) or an electronic travel card with a sufficient balance to cover the trip. Sometimes the fare depends on the length of the journey. Travel cards can be bought at stations and other places where you can pay in cash or by credit or debit card to top up your travel card.
During rush hour, public transport fares may be higher than at other times of the day. Trains and buses can also be overcrowded at this time and in big cities it can take much longer to reach your destination. It is therefore important to allow extra time for rush hour travel if you want to arrive at work or an appointment on time.
The vast majority of public transport means have clearly marked seats reserved for the elderly, disabled and pregnant women. Able-bodied passengers are expected to give up these seats when necessary.
Walking and cycling as means of transportation
Walking and biking are inexpensive and convenient ways to get around that are also good for your health. The United States has laws that regulate walking and bicycling. Pay attention to traffic signs and signals to avoid getting into dangerous situations while walking in your community. Use sidewalks and cross the roadway at pedestrian crossings or intersections. Park your bike in designated places and lock it securely. Many cities have created special bicycle lanes and developed traffic and safety rules for cyclists. Also, in many localities wearing a helmet while cycling is required by law, and in some cities cyclists must have a special license. To ride a bike safely, it is important to know and obey the traffic laws in your community.
Some cities have bike-sharing programs that allow drivers to rent bikes for short periods of time. In most cases, these programs involve a network of bike stations (bikeparks) throughout the city, and users pay to ride their bike from one station to another, where they must leave the bike for the next user. Usually, the cyclist is required to pay by credit or debit card or to become a member of the program in advance. Some programs have smartphone apps that allow cyclists to locate available bikes and make payments.