Advancements in 3S and MDG technology have largely eliminated the need for Funitel and BDG technologies. If you’re considering a Funitel, you might as well go with a 3S. The 3S is faster, with higher potential capacity and reasonably similar capital costs. A 3S also doesn’t incur the high energy consumption cost that’s typical of...
As we move into the slow summer months, we thought it appropriate to take the time and make revisions to the various lessons, modules and primer pieces available on The Gondola Project. The revisions we’re making correct some of the errors and omissions that resulted from creating an online primer text using 20 year old...
A quick look at some of the things that make small (or big) space living work (or not): American home size in 1950: 983 sq.ft. Minimum home size in New York State: 900 sq.ft. In Hillsborough, California: 2500sq.ft. How to stick it to the man (i.e. Hillsborough): Home on wheels Size: 130 sq.ft. Year...
Our apologies for the service disruption over the last 24 hours. This was entirely the fault of our web host provider, Aplus Web Hosting. Of course, we also deserve a share of the blame. Why? Because it’s our fault for continuing to use a service provider as consistently negligent and disinterested in the concept of customer...
There are two ways to use the word “engagement.” The first way is to promise yourself to someone else. To devote yourself to another entirely. To voluntarily betroth your mind, body and soul to a mutually beneficial union that’s meant to last an eternity. The second way is to declare war. To battle with an...
(Like yesterday’s post, this one is going to be a long one. My apologies to anyone whose not overly interested in Vancouver, Burnaby Mountain or its urban gondola transit system.) Yesterday I discussed the issues I had with how Translink chose to communicate their decision-making process to the public as they prepared for a series...
As most people know (or could easily assume), we’re pretty positive about the Burnaby Mountain Gondola proposal. We aren’t, however, zealots. We’re urbanists and planners first and foremost, gondola specialists second. We won’t mindlessly support any gondola that happens to be plunked down in any city. It’s got to make sense and be rationally thought out...
For our new readers: Despite the fact that systems like the planned London Thames Cable Car are often officially called “Cable Cars,” they are more often than not Gondolas. This can be confusing to cable transit novices. To make it easier: Cable Cars are supported from below (like cars) and Gondolas are supported from the top...