Mia Coats

Professor Ray Brown

Humanities 104: Global Perspectives Course

11 June 2016

European Public Transportation: The Movement of Our Lives

             Early morning shopping to the bakery, a trip off to work, a leisurely stroll through the architecture formed around their lives. Throughout each of the various European countries, renowned for their architectural appeal, lively culture, and historical global dominance stands a populous and successful continent. With an estimated population of over 743 million people and over 32 thousand per square kilometer, Europe is thriving with life and movement while progressively developing ways to maintain the population (Europe Population). Public transportation evidently being the most prominent task of those developments. Public transportation is also a source heavily relied on by cities throughout Europe, for its economic prosperity and necessity, as well as its extensive personal benefits. All factors in which drastically affect the average European today.

             Before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492-1914, Europe and exclusively Great Britain, had complete international control over the largest empire in history or, more than eighty percent of the entire world (Caltech). They maintained their empire through forceful military action and monarchy that helped them to maintain a sustainable economy and reliable resources. Scenically, Europe dressed in cathedrals and much of the architectural designs emerged from the earlier European times flaunting European triumph and leverage. Ships were often their most common form of transportation and were used often when it came to American immigration. However, on July 4, 1776, the American thirteen colonies overthrew their founders, Great Britain, gaining independence and beginning the cycle of countries battling for their independence. By doing so, trade and resources were cut down significantly and ship and merchant income declined. Yet, Independence was also a major breakthrough for the European economy, as it forced Europe to focus on its internal affairs and less on the international trade. Public Transportation began to boom. People shifted from the everyday coach or carriage of the seventeenth century to the creation of roads by the 1800’s (History 3-4). The most intricate system of transportation, railroads, didn’t arrive until later.

             In 1804, Great Britain was the first of the European countries to receive a new form of transportation, the railroads. Created by Richard Trevithick, the railroads provided an efficient and productive form of transportation most commonly used for the transportation of goods such as Iron (Cha). When the railways became more reliable, more delicate items such as foods, began to also be transported. For farmers, supply and demand increased and their product and land values also increased dramatically due to their goods being capable of traveling farther distances and becoming more accessible. The transportation and exportation/importation of food still remains sturdy and true in today’s economy providing for a mine field of job opportunities and wealth. The change positively impacted Europe’s economy and ensured that Europe would always remain economically stable amongst its internal economy.

             The railroads have currently turned into either trains or the more commonly known, metro, in many European countries today it is the most commonly used mode of transportation. The privatization of large railway monopolies and their profits is currently being condensed and in hopes, eliminated, however, much of Europe believes the railways are state controlled and are safe (Gale). Therefore, the numerous monopolies that emerge are thought to be beneficial to the state and consumer when they aren’t and could potentially cause havoc for the locals who need transportation. Railroads have expanded with ships and planes as well recently due to Europe’s rising reconnections to the rest of the world.

             Today, with at least fifteen ports in France alone, Europe has gradually intertwined back into international affairs and trade (CIA). With this expansion, tourists and a variety of immigrants have continuously wandered into the European culture and chosen to stay. The bombarding spike in the population requires government action to improve the transportation systems. As Europe remained hated and excluded from many of the world interactions caused by its tyrannical past events, it was left sheltered from boatloads of tourists and now locals are having to cope with the invasive foreigners in the cramped cities. Recently,“more than 50 measures” have been taken to help better develop the vast, expanding economy and compensate for the various modes of transportation making for easier international and local affairs (Martin 109). With a skyrocketing population growing in Europe, the scale between tourist and local has been shifted and  the government is working to help minimize the effect the tourists have on the local culture and atmosphere. The government is taking precautions as, the more transportations and communications they allow, the more history they will have lost and assimilation that will occur. The European Union is in most ways trying to conceal and contain the personalities and identities of the European nation from destruction and loss.

            Overall, this reveals that Europe is a constantly moving and constantly growing region proving that public transportation is essential to furthering development and balance amongst Europeans. It also presents the idea that public transportation has negative side effects in how it allows for the loss of culture and identity amongst the regions. Public transportation also provides for access to markets and opportunity but, the cost public transportation may ultimately have may be far more than the euro it costs.

 

Works Cited

"HISTORY OF TRANSPORT AND TRAVEL." HISTORY OF TRANSPORT AND TRAVEL. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 June 2016.

Martin, Juan Carlos. "Transportation Changes In Europe." Transportation Journal 50.1 (2011): 109-24. Penn State University Press. Web. 17 June 2016.

Moore, David E. "Rail's Golden Opportunity." International Business. 5.4 (n.d.): P12. Gale Library. Web. 17 June 2016.

"The World Factbook: France." Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 2016. Web. 20 June 2016.

"WHKMLA : Railroads in 19th Century Europe : Great Britain, France, Germany, and Russia." WHKMLA : Railroads in 19th Century Europe : Great Britain, France, Germany, and Russia. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 June 2016.

"WPR." Europe Population 2016. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 June 2016.

"Why Did Western Europe Dominate the Globe? | Caltech." The California Institute of Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 June 2016.

 

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