2019 Charlotte NC public transportation

Charlotte's Light Rail train

I had someone to tell me that I blessed them by sharing the truth about Charlotte's lack of public transportation. The individual was new to the area and could not figure out why so many were struggling with transportation.

First of all, let's start with the lack of a train system in Charlotte.  The NBA All Stars game Event is in Charlotte, NC this week.  In many major cities, when a flight arrives at the airport, the passenger can then hop onto a train system that is attached to the airport and ride it to the stop closest to their hotel.  Rental cars become less necessary when one's hotel is near a transit stop.

Well, Charlotte has a single train system that travels around in a circle from South Charlotte to University of NC at Charlotte.  There is no N-train, no S-train. And if the light rail needs major maintenance, then it is literally shutdown. People are then forced to use the bus system exclusively. 

And how about those bus services? The Charlotte bus system changes routes and drivers about every three to four months.  So for anyone to base housing or a job on a bus route in Charlotte, NC would be risky. Times or routes could change in the not so distant future.  Also, bus frequency averages every thirty minutes versus every five minutes in a major city.

Frankfurt, Germany

Major cities in the USA (like Boston, MA and Manhattan, NY) as well as abroad, have underground train systems built into the city.  The city then continues building structures around the train system.  An efficient and vast train system drives foot traffic.  Foot traffic drives business.

Tokyo Japan train

Charlotte is one of the largest cities in North Carolina, and with an average housing rental rate of $1200 a month, a vast public transportation system is needed to offset personal vehicles and traffic jams.

Yet, I see skyscrapers and buildings going up everywhere without any underground infrastructure going in.  I see more train tracks being laid down the streets.  Sadly, I don't see Charlotte, NC ever being able to meet the public transportation needs of a major city.  They are not laying the foundation to move massive amounts of people efficiently.  It will forever be a small town with a lot of people in it.

My Regional Frankfurt Germany 2019 Adventure

The CineStar movie theater had a separate listing for movies showing in English.  I was able to watch the Mule (English version, no subtitles) in Germany.  They also had the brilliant idea to put their movie popcorn in a box to carry instead of a bag.  Loved the popcorn, the box, and the movie.  Nice architecture of the building too!

Movie Popcorn!

Alot of German buildings are definitely not "cookie-cutter."  They have their own unique flavor. Mountainside.

More and more Architecture the farther I got away from the Frankfurt City Limits.

Windmill energy was also a part of the recycling efforts in the villages in the Frankfurt Germany region.  The villages get more snow.  The snow accumulation pictured is from before I arrived in Germany.  It did NOT snow while I was there.

Germany's electrical outlets are very distinguished.  Thank God that the USB ports are built-in for charging cellular phones.  For any other potential electrical devices that were not already provided in the hotel room, you are probably out of luck.  Thank God I have natural, locked hair. I stayed on the move.

Look close at the sign.  I saw Frankenstein. LOL I passed through on the "long distance" train ride to Kaiserslautern to see a German friend in one of the villages.  The villages do not have homeowner associations either.  Everyone mines their own business.

Elevators had negative numbered floors.

Affordable regional buses are also available.  I took the FlixBus on my return back to Frankfurt City.

Public transportation is definitely built into this city.  Plenty of pedestrians.  Foot traffic drives success of businesses.  This is something that certain cities don't understand.  You need sidewalks.  All cities should force foot traffic for shopping and exercise.  I didn't see any traffic jams in Germany.

Nothing wrong with a little window shopping in Frankfurt City. (Did you smile?)

I watched the Superbowl through the middle of the night because of the time zone.  Frankfurt Germany is six hours ahead.  So I started watching the SuperBowl at 11pm with German commentators.  I didn't understand what they were saying, but singing is singing, and football is football.

Old and new buildings co-exist in Frankfurt City.

Mixed used buildings with residential living and commercial businesses are also popular in Frankfurt City.  As far as people being helpful with directions and assistance,  I found the Germans (in passing) to definitely be more rude and not even wanting to be bothered with the English speaking. Hotel staff was wonderful.  Most tourist attractions are going to be bilingual and friendly.

Common areas/courtyards allow more art showcases. Homelessness was very visible from inside the Frankfurt airport to the Frankfurt city street corners.  Sleeping bags and beggars.  No one was rude.  No one ran them off.  Mine your own business.  Help or don't help. Human beings gave respect to each other.  As far as public water closets or toilets go, they are only in restaurants.  I even had to pay a Euro to use the "water closet" in the train stations in the villages.  Yeah, I was in shock, but with so much homelessness, I suppose they don't need everybody taking a wash in the public water closets.

My hotel room was modern.  The comforter/sheets were "all in one." This was a cool concept.  It has to save on laundry time.  It was the thickness of a sleeping bag, but no zipping.  You just cover up with it.

Yeah, the see-through shower was a cool design.  It is still just a shower for the independent traveller. LOL

I enjoyed the sauna at the hotel too!  My locs loved that dry heat!

As far as hair goes, Germans were NOT wearing any wigs nor rainbow colored hair.  Both my Japanese hotel room and my German hotel room had electric water kettles.  Drinking Tea is built into both Japanese and German cultures.  They also have heads full of hair.  I bought me a electric tea kettle upon my return to the United States.  Notice the electrical outlet. These countries got their own thing going on.  The American dollar is weaker than the Euro currency at this time.  Most businesses are also closed on Sundays in Germany except the restaurants.

The grass is not necessarily greener abroad, but it certainly gives you a better world perspective.

Use the CATS Village Rider to lose weight and save money!

For seventy (70) cents, you can get from the Lake Norman area to the NorthLake mall. Upon arrival at the NorthLake Mall bus stop, you will have a 10 minute walk ahead and a two story mall to walk around and shop in.

If you need to visit a bank, a cellular phone store, a dollar" store or even a "SuperTarget" discount store, then you are still within a 10 minute walk to all of those places of interest.

So you are worried about time? Here is a simple $1.40 round trip that consumes about 3 hours of your time in order to eat, exercise, and run errands:

7:45 am Catch Village Rider Route 98 for seventy cents and obtain a transfer ticket.

8:00 am Exit the bus at the Food Lion shopping center and walk over to Hardee's restaurant for breakfast.

8:30 am Use your transfer ticket to catch the Village Rider Route 99 outside of Hardee's.

8:50 am Exit the bus at NorthLake Mall, Walk to BB&T to bank, Walk to SuperTarget for miscellaneous lightweight supplies.

9:45 am Finish up all area shopping and walk back to NorthLake Mall bus stop.

10:00 am Catch the Village Rider 99 for seventy cents and obtain a transfer ticket.

10:30 am Use your transfer ticket to catch the Village Rider 98 back to your original pickup location.

Not a bad deal for under $2.00! Just don't forget to wear sneakers and take a small umbrella!

The CATS Village Rider bus also runs pass the Presbyterian Huntersville Hospital as well as the Carolinas Healthcare System Urgent Care. So if you are in need of non-life threatening medical attention or just need a regular medical check-up, transportation is near. I believe that the Hospital offers a one day bus pass for those who are admitted via ambulance and are released within the same day.

I was always told to secure housing on a bus line or a public transportation route. You never know when your vehicle may break down or when gasoline prices may become unaffordable.

The CATS Village Riders service the cities of Davidson, Cornelius and Huntersville. The regular riders consists of people going to work, grocery shopping, or just retired and need a change of scenery. It is the "country club" of "bus rides."

If you live in the Lake Norman area, have 1 to 3 hours to spare, and could use some exercise, then consider making your next trip a "public transportation" outing.