#gondola transportation

Dec 18, 2010
Weekly Roundup

Weekly Roundup

A few highlights from around the world of Urban Gondolas and Cable Propelled Transit: According to a report from Rio Times Online, it appears that Rio is planning to build a second Urban Gondola system. This system would serve the Rocinha favela and should connect with a future metro line. This is a major development...

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Dec 17, 2010
Engineering, Roosevelt Island Tram

Cable Propelled Transit: An Open Technology?

The new Roosevelt Island Tram (RIT) is likely to generate renewed interest in cable transit and urban gondolas. What it may also do is demonstrate to the wider transit planning community that Cable Propelled Transit is an “open” platform and not (necessarily) subject to the issue of proprietary technology. Let me explain: The Roosevelt Island...

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Dec 16, 2010
Thoughts

Ski Lift Manufacturers or Transit Builders?

A quick thought: The cable industry positions themselves as Ski Lift manufacturers who sometimes build transit. Why not flip that around? Why not be Transit Builders that happen to provide transportation to a whole host of markets, including ski hills? There’s a difference there. It’s subtle, but it’s there.

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Dec 15, 2010
Thoughts

The Importance of Students

Young people and students are the lifeblood of any new idea. Students talk, socialize and are generally more willing to wade around into the unfamiliar and unknown. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Facebook was invented by a 20 year old. It’s also no surprise that a large percentage of email I receive regarding cable transit...

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Dec 14, 2010
Roosevelt Island Tram

Roosevelt Island Tram – Original Video

Gareth Long is an artist in New York and one of my oldest and dearest friends. Sadly, due to the two-headed monster known as Geography and Life, we rarely get to see each other. But given the recent reopening of the Roosevelt Island Tram, it seemed like a logical opportunity to work together and see...

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Dec 13, 2010
Teleférico do Complexo do Alemao

Rio’s Teleférico do Complexo do Alemao – Update

Back in October, I brought notice to Rio’s Complexo do Alemao Teleférico. In that post I stated that based upon available information, the system was to be operational by the end of this year. Unfortunately in late November, Rio and the Complexo do Alemao favela were witness to a nasty battle between insurgent drug cartels...

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Dec 12, 2010
Sunday Statshot

Sunday Morning Statshot

A quick look at some of the things that make your cities work (or not): No pant’s day: Underwear everywhere Pantless subway ride: 44 cities Participants: 5000 Pantless subway ride: New York style Next event: Sunday, January 9, 2011 Telstar Logistics: Free illegal loading zone parking Parking pet peeve: Empty shopping carts in parking spots...

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Dec 11, 2010
Weekly Roundup

Weekly Roundup

A few highlights from around the world of Urban Gondolas and Cable Propelled Transit: The state governments of of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in India plan to install a ropeway to link the historic town of Anandpur Sahib to the Hindu shrine at Naina Devi. The city of Bucharest, Romania is planning a new series...

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Dec 10, 2010
London Cable Car

London Thames Cable Car Design Review: Now Available

CABE is the UK government’s advisor on architecture, urban design and public space. And they’ve just now released their opinion on the London Thames Cable Car. Generally-speaking, CABE is quite positive on the project. They “welcome” the project and are utterly effusive when it comes to the tower design: “The selection of a cable car...

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Dec 09, 2010
Subway

The Trouble With Ford’s Plan

As any Torontonian knows, Toronto’s transit plans are seriously in flux. After what seems like an eternity of planning a network of Light Rail lines, new mayor Rob Ford has decided to unilaterally nix that idea and build a new subway under the auspice that the “war on the car is over.” Yet amidst all...

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