#Propelled

Nov 20, 2009
Basic Lessons

Basic Lesson 5: Propulsion

Unlike traditional vehicles, CPT vehicles do not have an onboard engine or motor. Propulsion is provided by an off-board engine that moves a cable.  Vehicles are equipped with a grip used to attach and detach the vehicle to the cable. The vehicle is therefore propelled by the cable which itself is propelled by engines and...

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Nov 13, 2009
Aerial Trams, Basic Lessons, Funiculars

Basic Lesson 3: Aerial Trams & Funiculars

There are two minor sub-groups of CPT technology:  Aerial Trams and Funiculars. Aerial Trams are like larger Gondolas.  I’ll discuss this technology in greater detail later. Generally speaking, however, Aerial Trams are (relative to Gondolas) an out-dated mode of Cable-Propelled Transit.  Compared with Gondola technology, Aerial Trams exhibit longer wait times between vehicles; lower line...

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Nov 10, 2009
Basic Lessons, Cable Cars, Gondola

Basic Lesson 2: Gondolas & Cable Cars

There are two major sub-groups of Cable-Propelled Transit (CPT) technology:  Gondolas and Cable Cars. Gondolas are supported and propelled from above by cables.  Most people are familiar with this technology as used in alpine ski-resorts, however it is finding increased usage in non-alpine urban regions. Cable Cars on the other hand, are supported and propelled...

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Nov 07, 2009
Basic Lessons

Basic Lesson 1: What is Cable-Propelled Transit?

Simply speaking, Cable-Propelled Transit (CPT) is a transit technology that moves people in motor-less, engine-less vehicles that are propelled by a steel cable. Proceed to Basic Lesson 2 to learn about Gondolas & Cable Cars

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Nov 06, 2009
Voluntary Disclosure

Voluntary Disclosure

In the interest of honesty, let me state plainly that I have, in the past, provided planning services for the Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group, the world’s largest manufacturer of Cable-Propelled Transit (CPT) in the world.  I maintain a relationship with them to this day. Should this fact cloud your opinion of The Gondola Project or Cable-Propelled Transit?...

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Nov 05, 2009
Basic Lessons, Ngong Ping 360, Research Issues

The Basics

Sometimes people want to answer complex questions when most people looking for answers just want the basics. When I first began this work, there was one really basic question about Cable-Propelled Transit (CPT) that dogged me and no one could answer it.  It was a question that also dogged the think tank that first sponsored...

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Nov 04, 2009
Monorails, Thoughts, Voluntary Disclosure

CPT Is Not A Monorail

When I talk to anyone under the age of 35 about Cable-Propelled Transit (CPT) something almost always occurs: Without prompting, my partner in conversation will typically invoke the near-legendary Monorail musical number in The Simpsons episode “Marge vs. The Monorail.” For those who’ve never seen it, the story turns around a schemingly tuneful huckster bent...

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Nov 03, 2009
Thoughts

CPT Is Not A Cure-All

Cable-Propelled Transit is not a cure-all for cities or for poor planning. Any fool can tell you that x is a cure-all for y.  Even I could do it and I’m about as foolish as they come (a point most wouldn’t argue with).  The question is, are you willing to just believe it out-of-hand, or...

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Nov 02, 2009
Aerial Trams, History, Portland Aerial Tram, Roosevelt Island Tram

No City Wants To Be First . . .

but every city wants to be second. The competitive drive to be number one just doesn’t seem to permeate City Hall and that’s understandable.  Infrastructure is terribly expensive and no politician or planner wants to embarrass themselves by green-lighting a future white elephant. Cities are therefore remarkably conservative when it comes to infrastructure.  Cities tend...

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Nov 01, 2009
Background, History

One Summer In Switzerland . . .

. . . after graduating from planning school, I was visiting my partner’s family when plans arose to go hiking around her local ski resort. Let me make this clear from the beginning:  I am no skier.  I’ve skied twice in my life with little success and those occurrences were on hills of inconsequential size....

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