Is there a difference between ‘public transit’ and ‘public transport’?
Thanks,
Torsten[YSaerTTEW443543]
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Hi Torsten,
I only know ‘transit’ in the expression ‘in transit’ referring to goods on their way to somewhere or as used in ‘lost in transit’ or ‘transit camp’ where people stay in temporary accommodation. ‘Public transport’ I would have thought is something quite different - a totally different kettle of fish!
Alan
Hello Torsten,
I´m not really sure what you mean. I remember a time when the German Repulik was divided in two parts and a good part of Berlin was supposed to belong to the Western part of Germany. Since the Westerners had to pass the area of Eastern Germany in order to get to Berlin and contrary, the way, that the Westerners were allowed to use was called “Transitstrecke” meaning both, goods and persons. And the traffic was called “Transitverkehr”.
Since that time “transit” to me always has the meaning of transportation between two fixed points, even in English. Whereat "public transport , to me, has more a general meaning.
just my tuppence on this
Michael
What I mean is that if you google the term ‘public transit’ it comes up as a synonym to ‘public transport’ and ‘mass transport’: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_transport
APTA recently completed a new survey of public transit systems nationwide that identified more than $15 billion in public transportation capital projects that can be started in 90 days.
Another example: www.google.com/transit
Two Out of Three Jobs Created by Public Transit Investment Replace Jobs Hardest Hit by Economic Downturn – New Study Shows $1 Billion Investment in Public Transportation Yields 30,000 Jobs[YSaerTTEW443543]
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“Public transit” and “mass transit” sound more American to me, “public transport” British.
In this matter, my opinion is, public transit refers to deliver goods from place to place. While public transport means for me, a huge firm or business concern which establish a network in order to transport people in the city or in the whole country.
Well, according to TheFreeDictionary, the term ‘public transit’ is used to describe a public transportation system for moving passengers. So Cerberus is probably right saying that ‘public transit’ and ‘mass transit’ are synonyms in American English while ‘public transport’ is British.[YSaerTTEW443543]
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Yes He is right probably, then sorry but public transit means to me deliverying goods and not people. But of course It can be meant public transport in the USA, as I have learnt mostly British-English.
This is an interesting difference as Public transit in the US deals only with moving people (busses, trains, and such), while the movement of goods would not be called either public transit or public transport because goods are transported by private companies.
Another interesting point is that Americans usually use freight in lieu of goods. They say ‘goods and services’ but it’s always a ‘freight train’ or ‘freight shipment’ and not a ‘goods train’.
Hi Lez, You seem to be the only one to whom ‘public transit’ means delivering goods. The word ‘public’ indicates that is for the general population and the word ‘population’ refers to ‘people’ not goods.[YSaerTTEW443543]
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