U-bahn

Public transportation in Vienna is prompt, clean, simple and for the most part, quite elegant. Lately I've been on some super crowded buses, trolleys and subways and it is hot, but there is a feeling that we're all in this together and as a general rule, the German and Austrian cultures are well-behaved, mindful of others and respectful of rules. Of course this is a city of diverse cultures so there are wild moments, but the baseline is that a lot of the u-bahn stations are elegant, visually delightful and that goes a long way in setting the tone.

At times it gets pretty crowded, with people cramming to squeeze in as the doors close.

 But I'm often out late, and caught a quiet moment here riding the escalator down to the platform.

The architect Otto Wagner, prominent here for a number of beautiful public buildings, designed the Vienna Metropolitan Railway in the late 1800s. His cutting-edge design is just as visually appealing to the modern eye. The design is nothing short of brilliant, allowing a free and easy flow of passengers.  From the tile, to the signage, to the architectural motifs, to the lampposts, to the windows and benches, his design promotes a relaxing wait and a delightful arrival. This is the station at the Stadtpark, representative of a number of the stations.

And the bridgework design itself is impressive. This is a typical bridge leaving the station on the U6 line.