One thing to note if you are planning a trip to Denmark is that you can rely on public transportation with confidence. In Denmark, this covers trains, commuter rail, metro, buses, and the availability of bike lanes (of which there are shockingly many). Just because it is said that a bus will be at a certain place at a certain time, it does not always mean that it will be there. And if you are in a foreign place, you don’t have the background to think, Don’t worry, the E11 always runs a little late.
Cutting back on concerns is essential when you are on a trip. They are time-consuming. They make you rethink your plans. They drain the fun out of the adventure. And maybe they are the best way to judge the efficacy of a provided service.
In Denmark, all metro, commuter trains, and inter-city trains are accessible via an app. It’s straightforward and easy to use. You can book as you stand on the track. The bus schedules are also available electronically and at each stop. On board, the screens display the time, stops, and the time of arrival at each stop, among other information. A subdued Scandinavian kerfluffle of concern arose on one trip as the wagon had to stop at the central station and not continue as planned to the airport. There was an instant sharing of information among riders to ensure everyone was in the know.
Rail infrastructure is present across the country, whose land mass is only a fifth the size of Minnesota, but whose citizenry is very similar. With the main corridors of population running between the higher-density areas, it is not surprising (in a way) that rail can be the dominant form of transportation. In an area like the northern tip of Jutland, where the rail network is limited, buses take over. As far as I could tell, most of the towns enjoyed regular daily service.
If you are making travel plans from afar, it’s significant to know that not only are the towns, cities, and hamlets accessible, but they are reliably and frequently visited. You might have a UNESCO-rated Viking archaeological site on your list of must-sees, and you know you don’t have to rent a car to reach it. Nor do you have to fudge in extra time if your timing is off in such a way as to miss the one bus that goes through the area. A traveler doesn’t worry about contingency plans or estimate the risk of not having transportation.
Renting a car is possible, but it’s expensive, costing $60-$90 per day. And then you have to pay for gas and parking. A one-hour bus ride up to Lokken, a beach town on the North Sea, costs DK94, or just under $15 —seriously.
Lastly, you will find that the vehicles themselves are well-kept and clean. School children, teens, and adults of all ages trundle on and off them with noticeable familiarity. No need to fear being laughed at or judged for not following any particular protocol. Everyone is simply going about their day. Using the extremely reliable, well-networked, optimally supplied sources of transportation that their governing body chooses to provide with a substantial subsidy.
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