Megaloping is a method of traveling through a megalopolis exclusively using methods of transportation operated by a public transit company, such as subways, railroads, buses, and ferries. The purpose of megaloping is to travel the vast distances encompassed by a modern megalopolis using its interconnected public transit systems, which are used daily by commuters traveling to and from work in the cities connected by the megalopolis. The term was coined by Davide Gadren and Stefan Berteau.[1]
The Megaloping Experiment
editIn May 2007, Stefan Berteau and Davide Gadren, two American twentysomethings, set out to travel from Fredericksburg, Virginia to Portland, Maine utilizing exclusively public transportation. The premise behind the voyage was that the cities in the Northeastern United States, ranging from the greater Washington Metropolitan Area to just outside of Greater Boston, Massachusetts have merged into the Northeast Megalopolis.[2]
The trip crossed 12 states, encompassed over 600 miles, and lasted 5 days.
Rules of Megaloping
editThere are three basic "rules" to megaloping.[3] The basic principle behind the rules is that megaloping should mimic the commuting patterns of the residents of the megalopolis. [4]
1. All vehicles traveled on must be operated by a public transit company.
2. Using regional or long-distance transit systems (such as Amtrak) is forbidden.
3. No megaloper can walk more than two miles.