4 March 2015 - A renowned attraction and vital transport for tens of thousands of residents, the Central-Mid-Levels escalator was recently featured on the CNN website as one of the coolest commutes in the world.
Connecting the bustling business area in Central up to the peaceful neighborhood on Conduit Road, this one-way transport system brings people down to work in the morning and up to dine and home until midnight. “So if you arrive at work only to realize you've left that all-important presentation at home, going back to get it might involve a workout,” a frustrating scenario many Mid-Levelers may have experienced at some point.
In fact, Mid-Levels is well connected by public transportation, especially on Caine Road and Robinson Road, while estates such as Robinson Place and Goldwin Heights even provide free shuttle bus services for residents.
Not only is it the world's longest outdoor covered escalator, it’s also extremely fast. The 800-metre-journey takes only 20 minutes, passing through the upbeat Soho district where a good number of stylish, multicultural bars and restaurants are clustered. The dynamics along the escalator have made Central Mid-Levels one of the best districts for both happy hours and home.
Some other cool commutes featured include Mi Teleférico, the seven-mile aerial cable car system in Bolivia, the exciting Wicker Toboggan sled ride in Portugal and CycloCable, an innovative footplate escalator designed to carry cyclists uphill in Norway.
