Elon Musk’s criticism of public transport has prompted an outpouring of stories of the connections and community formed in the midst of a “bunch of random strangers” on mass transit.

The billionaire entrepreneur had expressed disdain for the inconvenience and cramped confines of mass transit – along with the potential proximity to “serial killers” – in response to an audience member’s question about public transport and urban sprawl at the Neural Information Processing Systems conference in Long Beach, California, last week.

“I think public transport is painful. It sucks,” he said. “Why do you want to get on something with a lot of other people, that doesn’t leave where you want it to leave, doesn’t start where you want it to start, doesn’t end where you want it to end? And it doesn’t go all the time ...

“It’s a pain in the ass,” Musk concluded. “That’s why everyone doesn’t like it. And there’s like a bunch of random strangers, one of who might be a serial killer – OK, great. And so that’s why people like individualised transport, that goes where you want, when you want.”



According to Wired’s report, Musk went on to dismiss the audience member’s response that public transportation apparently functioned effectively in Japan: “What, where they cram people in the subway? That doesn’t sound great.”

The man worth US $20.6bn may well have little in common with the average commuter. Even Musk’s ambitious venture to solve Los Angeles traffic with underground tunnels may prove to benefit no one more than himself: a Fast Company analysis of the proposed network found that it “conveniently” connects the SpaceX headquarters with his five homes in Bel Air.

On Twitter, Musk’s enthusiasm for Tesla electric cars “individualised transport” was widely condemned as evidence of his being out of touch. Jarrett Walker, a public transit policy consultant from Portland, tweeted: “[Musk’s] hatred of sharing space with strangers is a luxury (or pathology) that only the rich can afford. Letting him design cities is the essence of elite projection.”

Musk responded directly to Walker on Twitter: “You’re an idiot.” (He subsequently clarified: “Meant to say ‘sanctimonious idiot’.”)

You’re an idiot — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 15, 2017

The response prompted Brent Toderian, a Vancouver-based city planner and urbanist, to appeal for people’s stories of “great things that happened on transit” on Twitter – and Twitter came to transit’s defence.

“I expected a response, but the size and inspirational power of the response blew away my expectations,” Toderian told Guardian Cities.

People from around the world shared their stories of births and marriages, surprise reconnections, strangers’ kindnesses, and appropriately festive cheer that had occurred on public transport.

Christmas decorated buses in Brisbane really get you in the festive mood #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit pic.twitter.com/ahXEFWiwTP — Tim Wedmaier (@TWedmaier) December 20, 2017

“It wasn’t about convincing Elon Musk, although that would be nice – a Christmas transit miracle, as it were,” said Toderian. “Rather, it was about everyone else. Musk has a big megaphone, but together we have a bigger one.”

Eric Rapaport said he had been using public transportation independently in New York City since he was 10 years old. “Transit is freedom,” he wrote. “It is one step in becoming an adult.”



Julian King, in Auckland, New Zealand, saw the positive story of public transport as a short and simple one: “I rode an electric train to the city. It was $3. And quicker than driving. And I didn’t have to park it. The end.”

I met my wife on a train platform. https://t.co/8tpO6RJpKh — Jeff Speck (@JeffSpeckAICP) December 18, 2017

My parents met on a train. Two dear married friends of mine met on a train.



We should all take more trains! — Emily Johnston (@enjohnston) December 18, 2017

Riding the New York City Subway’s 1 train to my wedding.#GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit

cc: @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/NYc8ivnv2o — Dustin Tyler Joyce (@dt_joyce) December 19, 2017

My wife once helped deliver a baby in a bus shelter while waiting for the @chtransit J bus! https://t.co/yN9VvBweI9 #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — Patrick McDonough (@citybeautiful21) December 18, 2017

I've read hundreds of books on the L train. #greatthingsthathappenedontransit — Mary Pustejovsky (@mpusto) December 18, 2017

My six year old and I love walking and public transit. So our Sunday activity would be

- walk to the train station

- take the train to next station

- take the bus back home

A circle just 10 km but quality time of at least 2 hours #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — Eduard van der Zwan (@zwanneman) December 18, 2017

Where to start? I've discovered great music and read amazing books. I get fashion inspiration from other commuters, and every day I get to simply sit and breathe without distraction. It's a welcome break from my busy life. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit @ATPcommutes — Claudia Pors (@claudiapors_atp) December 18, 2017

On my regular ride (the #77 bus in Seattle), there is a father with two delightful young daughters. The older one likes to turn around and offer to read the latest book to the passenger in the next seat. (Seuss, anyone?) Makes everyone smile. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — Benjamin de la Pena (@benjiedlp) December 18, 2017

I met a man from Ghana, going to school in Denmark and on an exchange program with the University of Washington. Also met a Somalian refugee. Instead of being alone in my car and stressed about traffic. #greatthingsthathappenedontransit — Kari Nathan (@Skarinathan) December 18, 2017

Recognizing a new classmate on the #97express bus to @ubcokanagan resulted in a conversation and one of the deepest and most meaningful friendships of my adult life. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — Jordan Rockerbie (@Jackerbie) December 18, 2017

A full bottle of wine just rolled out from under a subway seat and now these 2 strangers popped it open & are drinking it. This is peak NYC pic.twitter.com/lni474aoY9 — Colleen Hagerty (@colleenhagerty) February 26, 2017

I've heard some fantastic music and even witnessed great puppet shows on transit. Brings the whole car together. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — Brian Stokle (@urbanlifesigns) December 18, 2017

I get to read the whole newspaper on my way to work and detach from looking at my phone for awhile. @wmata #bus #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit @elonmusk — Andrew Dupuy (@adup512) December 19, 2017

My stress as a commuter has all but disappeared. I went from the angry solitude of driving to the calm of books and music among my fellow Houstonians. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit https://t.co/s9fY38AowD — Allyn West (@allynwest) December 18, 2017

As a mom who works shiftwork, my commute is basically my only stress free me time. No trafffic, no interacting with others, nothing I should be doing, just quiet time. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — Donna & Blitzen (@donnamatrix) December 18, 2017

Recognizing a new classmate on the #97express bus to @ubcokanagan resulted in a conversation and one of the deepest and most meaningful friendships of my adult life. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — Jordan Rockerbie (@Jackerbie) December 18, 2017

I lost my wallet on the St. Louis Metrolink. Then a few hours later someone cleaning the train said they found it. The returned it to me with all my money. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — andrew malick (@andrewmalick) December 19, 2017

As a new expat in Japan, culture shock was rough. A woman approached me as I waited dejectedly for the train, encouraged me in my own language, gave me her card and told me to call her anytime. Ten years on, I'm still grateful for that kindness. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — Meika Weiss (@MeikaSue) December 18, 2017

After moving to a new city with no social supports, little money, I made a bus-buddy. She and her family gave me a turkey for our Christmas dinner because they knew how hard the move had been on us financially. Great kindness #greatthingsthathappenedontransit — Elle Peah (@ouroborosage) December 18, 2017

My mother has become good friends with a group of women she met taking the bus to work every morning. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit Oh, and @elonmusk I don't believe any of them are serial killers. — David Paton (@davidmpaton) December 18, 2017

Asked my 12-year-old for positive stories about taking the city bus to school. He said he likes being the only person in his entire school (K-8) to do it. I like that he likes to #BeThatGuy.#GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — #VisionZero Canada (@VisionZeroCA) December 18, 2017

I once flew from homogenous, monoglot, all-white Munich to Chicago. On the train into town I heard several languages & saw dozens of colors, ages, styles, & religions. It made me proud to be an American. A real life lesson. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — Alan Cooper (@MrAlanCooper) December 18, 2017

I love everyone's #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit stories. I have too many to count! Conversations on the Trans-Siberian; seeing baby elephants from a bus in Yunnan, China; being shown a secret firefly grotto by the bus driver in NZ because I had genuine interest in his tales. — Robyn Jankel (@RobynJankel) December 19, 2017

I began speaking with a really old lady next to me, and we realized that she met my recently dead grandma when they were young. She spoke me about my grandma and her active contribution to the women of her community all the way... @elonmusk #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — ERI (@eri_ATTG) December 19, 2017

Canada Line ride today. I settle in, standing. A young person is looking at me. What?!? She gestures at her seat, eyebrows raised. I smile, shake my head and bow deeply. She laughs, and goes back to her book. Just another transit connection. #GreatThingsthatHappenedonTransit — Ken Ohrn (@KenOhrn) December 20, 2017

My adult #refugee #ESLlearners often view their transit rides as a time to practice their English small talk, connect to others in their new community, and familiarize themselves with the city. #lifelinetocommunity #placemaking #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — Shelley McConnell (@shmcconnell) December 19, 2017

I was on @SEPTA Regional Rail in Philly once and heard a 9/11 first responder tell his story. It was a great experience. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — Justin (@jburk3r) December 18, 2017

A Dutch WWII vet on my bus told me what life was really like in the Japanese POW camp depicted in the movie 'Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence' #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — K2 Kru go Kristmassy (@Ksquared56) December 18, 2017

I rode @wmata into the Women’s March. The crowd was too thick so we were stuck in the station for a while, so a transit employee sang for us. It was a fantastic start. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — Lyle Solla-Yates (@LyleSollaYates) December 18, 2017

By taking transit everyday and (almost) everywhere, I have never had the expense of car ownership. Instead I was able to afford a house #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — catfish you a merry Christmas (@catfish8888) December 19, 2017

I thank everyone using public transport improving air quality and safety for cyclists like me #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — Bitting (@Bitting) December 19, 2017

Not only did I meet my wife on a train, but the extra walking led me to a healthier lifestyle and to lose over 50 pounds. I also ended up with the coolest job in the world thanks to ditching my car and nerding out over transit. #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — Chris Storm (@cstorm15) December 18, 2017

Once saw a blind man greet a deaf man on the bus, obviously knew each other, they spent whole ride having animated conversation using sign language in their hands. Watching this example of friendship was so heartwarming. @elonmusk @humantransit #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — Colby Henley (@ColbyHenley) December 18, 2017

on the streetcar today, two old men who hadn't seen each other in apparently decades delightedly recognized each other



one of them then said "oh, George, it's been so long. And what a beautiful life I've had!" 😭😭😭 — Anthony Oliveira (@meakoopa) December 20, 2017

What a great way to turn @elonmusk's idiotic statement into a wonderful uplifting tribute to the #GreatThingsThatHappenedOnTransit — Demian Godon (@dgodon) December 19, 2017

Follow Guardian Cities on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to join the discussion, and explore our archive here