Learn Hardcore Italian: Prendo il tram, oppure vado a piedi.

You need the article. With the verb prendere + a vehicle, Italian uses the definite article: prendere il tram / l’autobus / il treno / la (metropolitana) metro. Saying prendere tram is unnatural. Contrast: when you express the means with a preposition, you usually drop the article: andare in tram / in autobus / in treno / in metro.

What’s the difference between o and oppure?

Both mean “or,” and both are correct here:

o = neutral “or.”
oppure = “or (else)/or alternatively,” often a touch more emphatic or clearer when presenting alternatives, especially in speech and in questions. In this sentence, o and oppure are interchangeable.

Why is there a comma before oppure? Is it required?

It’s optional. The comma marks a pause between two independent clauses. You can write either:

Prendo il tram oppure vado a piedi.
Prendo il tram, oppure vado a piedi. Both are fine; many writers omit the comma in short, balanced clauses.

Do I need to say io (I), or is it okay to omit it?

Omitting it is normal. Italian is a “null subject” language, so the verb ending (prendo, vado) already shows the subject. Use io only for emphasis or contrast: Io prendo il tram, tu vai a piedi.

Does the present tense here mean “I take,” “I’m taking,” or “I’ll take”?

All are possible, depending on context. Italian present can express:

Habit: Di solito prendo il tram.
Immediate/ongoing: Adesso prendo il tram.
Near future/decision: Va bene, prendo il tram. To emphasize “right now” in progress, Italians might say Sto prendendo il tram or more idiomatically Sono sul tram (“I’m on the tram”).

Is vado a piedi the same as just saying cammino?

Close, but not identical.

vado a piedi = “I go on foot” (means of transport), neatly contrasts with in tram / in autobus.
cammino = “I walk” (the action), not explicitly a transport alternative. In a choice against a vehicle, vado a piedi is the most idiomatic. Cammino is fine in many contexts, but it doesn’t pair as symmetrically with prendo il tram.

Why is it a piedi and not in piedi or a piede?

a piedi is the fixed expression “on foot.” It’s plural because people have two feet.
in piedi means “standing (upright),” not “on foot (as a means).” So vado in piedi would mean “I go standing,” which is odd.
a piede is not used for this meaning (it appears only in a few set phrases like a piede libero, unrelated here).

Are there other natural ways to say the tram option?

Yes, with slightly different nuances:

Vado in tram = I go by tram (focus on the means).
Salgo sul tram = I get on the tram (the boarding action).
In everyday speech you can also reference the line: Prendo il 12 (I’ll take line 12).

What’s the plural of tram?

It’s invariable: singular il tram, plural i tram (not “trams” or “trami”). Similarly, autobus is invariable: l’autobus / gli autobus.

Can I change the order or put oppure at the start?

Yes:

Vado a piedi oppure prendo il tram.
Oppure vado a piedi. (at the start, it feels like adding an afterthought or second option)

How would I turn this into a question asking for advice?

Common options:

Prendo il tram o (oppure) vado a piedi? (neutral “Which should I do?”)
Devo prendere il tram o andare a piedi? (explicit “Should I…?”)

Any quick pronunciation tips?

prendo: clear “e” as in “bed,” not like “prAy-.”
oppure: double pp is a longer, stronger p; don’t reduce it.
tram: short “a” (as in “father”); final m is audible.
vado: stress on the first syllable: VA-do.
a piedi: say “PIE-di” with a glide “pie” (not “pee-eh”); link smoothly: vado a piedi.

Why is it vado and not something like “ando”?

Because andare is irregular in the present: vado, vai, va, andiamo, andate, vanno. By contrast, prendere is regular in the present: prendo, prendi, prende, prendiamo, prendete, prendono.

Can I use altrimenti instead of oppure?

No, not for a neutral “or.” Altrimenti means “otherwise/if not,” introducing a consequence or condition:

Prendo il tram, altrimenti faccio tardi. = “I’ll take the tram; otherwise I’ll be late.” For simple alternatives, stick to o/oppure.