Getting Around Town (Daily Living Part III)

Getting around town is a bit different here than at home (though it's fairly similar to any major city in the US). Where I currently live in the US, cars are definitely the main way of getting around, though there are buses. Some people walk or bike as well, but to conduct daily business, most people drive. I understand that this might not be the case in bigger cities, but I think you'll understand.

Here in Leipzig, the main way that Bryan and I get around is by foot. I have never walked so much on a day to day basis (it's the secret to being able to eat so very many pastries). The walkers here, though, do not generally wear tennis shoes like we'd wear to the gym or flip flops. Sandals, dress shoes, flats, or tennis shoes in the style of Keds or Pumas are what walkers wear (myself included). It's generally pretty easy to get around by walking here.

For longer trips, biking is a popular choice. Many people commute by bike and there are bike racks, bike lanes, and special traffic signals for bikes everywhere. It is common to see people getting groceries or running other errands by bike as well. Pedestrians have to keep a watchful eye out, though, because bikers are sometimes allowed on the sidewalks and bikers here tend to weave in and out of pedestrian traffic. Sometimes a little dinging bell noise behind you can mean danger is about to strike! You can also rent bikes from several agencies here.

If the weather is bad or you need to go a long distance, there are buses and trams (streetcars or Straβenbahn) as well. For 2 Euros, you can make a one-way trip. I do believe that the tickets are good for an hour, plus there are day, week, and month tickets too. The tram system is awesome! There are trams very frequently and the tram cars are very clean. It is a bit tricky because sometimes you need to validate (time stamp) your ticket and other times you don't need to, but it is definitely a convenient service. Leipzig is currently constructing it's first underground train line, but it is not finished yet. The street level trams are more convenient for passengers, I think, because there are no steps or long walkways to reach the tram (like there is for an underground system or for a system like the L). Also, there is no stigma to using public transportation here like there sometimes is in the US.

There are definitely cars here, but most people do not use them for day to day travels around the city. The cars that do exist here are smaller than at home. My Honda Civic is average to large in terms of size and Bryan's Honda Fit is about the normal size. There are a lot of tiny cars here and very few SUVs (gas is more expensive). Parking here seems to be a partial free for all. Sometimes people double park on the street or park on the sidewalks. We've only seen three cars get parking tickets before tonight, though, when we saw a parking officer giving some more tickets.

The train system here can also be a little overwhelming. There's a commuter line, regional lines, Intercity Express lines, and several others that all leave from the same station. The station in Leipzig has 26 tracks (it's also the largest train terminal in Europe) and also contains a shopping mall. We've been in this station every weekend since we've arrived here and it truly has made all of our day trips possible. The trains are clean and usually very punctual.


Hopefully this helped explain how we've been getting around town here!