They are cheaper to build than metros. Trams do not emit fumes and are economic on energy consumption. They blend in well in the townscape. Through the goldfish effect, they increase safety on streets and dissuade crime. This list is far from complete.
People develop an emotional link to their trams.
When the Bobigny to St. Denis tram opened in the Parisian suburbs, many people said, this was the only good thing the government had done for them in decades. Tram enthusiasts are people who take this emotional link one step further. On these pages, I hope to introduce you to the tram systems I know especially well. I'd love to hear from you.