Transportation in the Pokémon world
There are various methods of transportation used in the Pokémon world. These methods can be divided into transportation by land, air, and water. Some Pokémon can also be used as transportation.
Land
- Main article: Land transportation in the Pokémon world
In the games, there are many means of land-based transport that the player can use. For simple personal navigation, Running Shoes and Bicycles have long been a staple, and Roller Skates made an appearance in Pokémon X and Y.
Vehicles are commonly seen, but rarely used by the player. The opening scene of the Hoenn games sees the player arriving in a moving van. In Lumiose City in Kalos, the player can use the Lumi Cab taxi service. In Alola, the Exeggutor Express bus can be used to reach the top of Mount Hokulani. In Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, the player also rides a levitating motorcycle/scooter for intercity travel.
Trains provide some (usually intercity) travel in the games. The Magnet Train connects Saffron City in Kanto and Goldenrod City in Johto. The Battle Subway can travel between Nimbasa City and Anville Town in Unova—but most of its lines function as battle facilities. In Kalos, a train connects Lumiose City and Kiloude City, while a monorail connects two halves of Coumarine City. In Galar, a rail system connects Wedgehurst, the Wild Area, Motostoke, Hulbury, Hammerlocke, White Hill Station, and Wyndon; a monorail in Wyndon also connects Wyndon Station, the Rose of the Rondelands, Wyndon Stadium, and the Battle Tower. In Orre, The Under Subway connects The Under and the Shadow PKMN Lab. A cable car is also the primary means of reaching Mt. Chimney.
In Pokémon Snap and New Pokémon Snap, the player rides in special, self-navigating vehicles: ZERO-ONE and NEO-ONE.
In other media, these transports may also appear when the story touches the same setting. In Pokémon the Series, the destruction of Misty's bike becomes the impetus for her to join Ash as his first traveling companion. May and Dawn also had bikes that were destroyed.
Air
- Main article: Air transportation in the Pokémon world
Air transport is relatively rare in the games. In Unova, Mistralton City has an airport, from which the player can travel to the Nature Preserve. Team Plasma also uses an airship, the Plasma Frigate. In Pokémon Conquest, a blimp is used to carry Warriors between non-adjacent kingdoms. In Pokémon GO, members of Team GO Rocket appear in hot air balloons. In Hoenn, in the Delta Episode, the Mossdeep Space Center's rocket is a centerpiece of the plan to stop an asteroid. In The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, the player rides a plane to travel between Paldea, Kitakami, and Blueberry Academy.
In Pokémon the Series, the Team Rocket trio often uses many different kinds of balloons to travel and to spy on targets. Ash traveled by plane to reach Unova, Kalos, and Alola. In Pokémon Horizons: The Series, the Rising Volt Tacklers operate off their airship, the Brave Olivine. Helicopters are often used by villainous teams.
Water
- Main article: Water transportation in the Pokémon world
Most games feature a prominent mode of water transport. In Kanto, several ships dock at Vermilion City: the S.S. Anne is a luxury cruise that sails the world; the S.S. Aqua travels between Vermilion City and Olivine City in Johto; and the Seagallop provides access to and between the Sevii Islands. In Hoenn, the S.S. Tidal mainly goes between Lilycove City and Slateport City. In Sinnoh, the S.S. Sinnoh connects Snowpoint City and Fight Area. In Unova, the Royal Unova in Castelia City provides a short pleasure cruise that returns to dock in a matter of hours. In Alola, ferries are the main mode of transportation between the islands (docking at Hau'oli City, Heahea City, Malie City, and the Seafolk Village), as well as Aether Paradise.
In Pokémon the Series, the Team Rocket trio often uses submarines to travel and spy on targets. In Alto Mare, a city of canals, gondolas provide a major means of transportation.
Pokémon as transport
- Main article: Pokémon as transport
In the games, surfing over water and flying are common modes of transport. Notably, Lapras, the Transport Pokémon, is often seen as a way of ferrying people across the sea. For example, in Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, Lapras is used to transport the hero and partner to other islands.
In Pokémon the Series and related media, Pokémon are also occasionally used for transportation. People, as well as Pokémon themselves, may ride on Pokémon for various reasons. This is often seen in races, wherein only Pokémon may be used to move around, such as when Ash and his friends joined a race in the Pokémon the Series: The Beginning episode The Flame Pokémon-athon!.
Like in the games, Trainers also surf or fly using their Pokémon, such as in the movie Mewtwo Strikes Back, where Trainers attempted to use their Pokémon to reach Mewtwo's island. Ash and his friends also used Lapras while traveling in the Orange Islands. Additionally, Pokémon Rangers often harness the power of certain Pokémon to fly, surf, or swim. Ash's Flying-type Pokémon were ridden many times, often by Pikachu while looking for something or attacking Team Rocket's balloon. Pikachu rode on Butterfree in episodes such as Bye Bye Butterfree, and also rode on Pidgeotto, Swellow, and Staraptor, Ash's bird-based Pokémon, on several occasions.
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