public transport

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

ˌpublic ˈtransport 7 BrE NAmE (BrE) (NAmE ˌpublic transporˈtation) noun uncountable
the system of buses, trains, etc. provided by the government or by companies, which people use to travel from one place to another
•to travel on/by public transport
•Most of us use public transport to get to work.

Culture:
transport [public transport transport]
Most journeys in Britain and the US are made by ↑road. Some of these are made on public transport (AmE public transportation) but most are by private car.
In Britain many people rely on their car for daily local activities, e.g. getting to work, doing the shopping, and visiting friends. People living in urban areasmay use buses, trains or, in London, the ↑Underground, to get to city centres, mainly because traffic is often heavy and it is difficult to find anywhere to park a car. Some places in the country have very few buses so people living there have no choice but to rely on their cars.
In the US large cities have good public transportation systems. The ↑El railroad in Chicago and the underground systems of New York, ↑Boston, ↑San Francisco and ↑Washington, DC are heavily used. Elsewhere, most Americans prefer to use their cars. In 2000 half of New Yorkers used public transport to get to work. In Los Angeles it was less than 10%. Families often have two cars and, outside major cities, have to drive fairly long distances to schools, offices, shops, banks, etc. Many college and even high-school students have their own cars.
Long-distance travel in Britain is also mainly by road, though ↑railways link most towns and cities. Most places are linked by ↑motorways or other fast roads and many people prefer to drive at their own convenience rather than use a train, even though they may get stuck in a traffic jam. Long-distance coach/bus services are usually a cheaper alternative to trains, but they take longer and may be less comfortable. Some long-distance travel, especially that undertaken for business reasons, may be by air. There are regular flights between regional airports, as well as to and from London. A lot of freight is also distributed by road, though heavier items and raw materials often go by rail.
In the US most long-distance travel is by air. America had two main long-distance bus companies, Greyhound and Trailways which merged in the early 1990s. Amtrak, which is financially supported by the federal government, provides long-distance rail services for passengers. There are many smaller private companies that operate commuter railways for the cities. Other private railway companies such as Union Pacific now carry only freight, though in fact over 70% of freight goes by road.
The main problems associated with road transport in both Britain and the US are traffic congestion and pollution. It is predicted that the number of cars on British roads will increase by a third within a few years, making both these problems worse. The British government would like more people to use public transport, but so far they have had little success in persuading people to give up their cars or to share rides with neighbours. Nevertheless, in the ten years to 2003 travel by rail increased by almost a third. Most people feel that public transport needs to be improved. Americans have resisted government requests to share cars because it is less convenient and restricts their freedom. Petrol/gasoline is relatively cheap in the US and outside the major cities public transport is bad, so they see no reason to use their cars less.
Despite the use of unleaded petrol/gasoline, exhaust emissions (= gases) from vehicles still cause air pollution which can have serious effects on health. The US was the first nation to require cars to be fitted with catalytic converters (= devices that reduce the amount of dangerous gases given off). Emissions are required to be below a certain level, and devices have been developed to check at the roadside that vehicles meet the requirement. Stricter controls are also being applied to lorries/trucks. Car manufacturers are developing cars that use electricity and other fuels that cause less pollution.
The cheapest and most environmentally-friendly ways to travel are to walk or ride a bicycle. Many cities now have special cycle routes or cycle lanes beside the main road. Elsewhere, there are so many cars on the roads that cycling can be dangerous. ↑Sustrans aims to increase travel by bicycle by providing safer routes. In the US bicycles are used mostly for fun or sport.

Collocations:
Town and country
Town
live in a city/a town/an urban environment/(informal) a concrete jungle/the suburbs/shanty towns/slums
live (especially NAmE) downtown/in the downtown area/(BrE) in the city centre
enjoy/like the hectic pace of life/the hustle and bustle of city life
cope with the stress/pressure of urban life
get caught up in the rat race
prefer/seek the anonymity of life in a big city
be drawn by/resist the lure of the big city
head for the bright lights (of the big city/New York)
enjoy/love the vibrant/lively nightlife
have/be close to all the amenities
be surrounded by towering skyscrapers/a soulless urban sprawl
use/travel by/rely on (BrE) public transport/(NAmE) public transportation
put up with/get stuck in/sit in massive/huge/heavy/endless/constant traffic jams
tackle/ease/reduce/relieve/alleviate the heavy/severe traffic congestion
be affected/choked/damaged by pollution
Country
live in a village/the countryside/an isolated area/a rural backwater/(informal) the sticks
enjoy/like the relaxed/slower pace of life
enjoy/love/explore the great outdoors
look for/find/get/enjoy a little peace and quiet
need/want to get back/closer to nature
be surrounded by open/unspoilt/picturesque countryside
escape/quit/get out of/leave the rat race
seek/achieve a better/healthy work-life balance
downshift to a less stressful life
seek/start a new life in the country
(BrE, informal) up sticks/ (NAmE, informal) pull up stakes and move to/head for…
create/build/foster a strong sense of community
depend on/be employed in/work in agriculture
live off/farm/work the land
tackle/address the problem of rural unemployment