Every day hundreds of people travel from one place to another for fun or from necessity. They travel to work, to school, on business, visiting friends or going shopping. For many people is travelling one of the most popular hobbies. Travelling is also an interesting way of spending holidays. In every season of the year the airports, railway stations, seaports and bus stops are full of people travelling for long or short distances.
When people travel a long distance they usually travel by air. Travelling by air is exciting, fast, comfortable, relatively safe but expensive. In the 20th century it has become one of the most important means of transportation. Especially during the last twenty years the number of airplanes and frequency of flights have grown abnormal. In such countries as the USA., where the people have to travel long distances to get from one place to another, travelling by air has become quite common. It takes nearly six hours by plane to get from the western to the eastern coast of the USA. There are several hundred American airlines, all of them private.
When people choose to travel by plane they usually go or telephone to the airlines or travel agency to get information about flights, reservations and cost of air tickets. It is also usual to confirm the flight a week before travelling.
At the airport, where the passengers travelling with international or intercontinental airlines have to show their flight tickets and passports. The passengers must also go through the customs. For air traffic safety both – people and luggage have to be checked and metal objects have to be detected.
In the plane the stewardess show passengers their seats and during the flight offers them some meals, drinks, cigarettes and sweets. The passengers can also read magazines or just sleep. From time to time they can hear information about altitute, speed and location af the plane.
The most frequent public means of transport are buses and trains. Travelling by train is the most common form of travelling. In our country trains are used daily by many people to and from work or school. Trains are cheap and safe, but not very clean and comfortable – especially slow trains which stop at every station. It can also be an advantage as the people, which have enough time to enjoy countryside.
Fast trains are more comfortable for longer distances. They don´t stop at every station. There are also a sleeping and dining car in fast trains which make the travelling by train more pleasant. Our railway system needs reorganizing and modernizing because is one of the most oldfashioned in all Europe. Travelling by train was a very popular way of travelling all over the world but nowadays is replaced by other forms such as travelling by planes, coaches and cars.
Coaches are buses for long distance travelling. They are fast, comfortable and the prices of tickets are quite affordable. In our country many people prefer coaches to trains. During holidays the travel agencies offer many coach trips to the mountains or seaside.
Many people think that car is the most comfortable means of travelling. Others think it is just a necessity because it is quicker than public transport. But for many people motoring is a pleasure. They enjoy driving a car at a high speed and don´t thin of the dangers of fast driving. Especially the young drivers contribute much to the accident rate, which is very high in our country. The speed controls and strict alcohol tests
have considerably reduced traffic deaths.
The cars are comfortable and quick but they are not safe and are expensive. The number of cars on our roads grows higher and higher every year - similar in other countries of the world. In the USA there are more persons per car than anywhere else – 1,9 people per car. Each adult member of the family may have a car. Many high school and college students drive their own cars to school and university every day. The growing number of cars is a danger not only for people but also for environment of the country.
Many young people of all countries of the world like travelling by bike. Some go to school by bike, others prefer cycling as a sport or a hobby. Many young people go for holiday trips by bike which is healthy and exciting. This type of travelling depends much on weather and therefore summer is the best season for cycling tours.
I prefer travelling by bus, because it is fast and the buses go most trquently as the trains. But again travelling by train is more confortable as by bus and the trains are more spacious. In summer I like travelling
by bike to the grandparents, swimmeng pool or just on trip.
