Posts Tagged: Telluride

06
Sep

2013

Weekly Roundup: New Cable Car Concept Put Forward in Gold Coast, Australia

Springbrook Queensland

A new cable car link from the airport to Springbrook has been proposed in Gold Coast, Australia. Image by Flickr user westernthunderer75.

A quick look at some of the things that happened this week in the world of cable cars, urban gondolas, and cable propelled transit:



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15
Nov

2012

Free Transit in France – Applicability to Other Transit Systems?

Châteauroux Bus. Image by Flickr user はにえる.

The Atlantic Cities recently published an excellent article which documents the success of free transit in the French city of Châteauroux. Since it was first implemented in 2001, this demonitized public transport system has experienced significant growth in ridership — from an average of 21 rides per person annually to 61 rides today.

More incredibly, this system actually became profitable for several years once it became free! And in the world of transit planning and policy, this fact alone is almost inconceivable.

So while this model is promising and many cities are following suit, it seems that the Châteauroux situation was unique in many ways. For instance, the municipality’s pre-free transit farebox recovery ratio was very low (14%) and nearly half its riders at that time were already fully subsidized. On top of that, the city expanded its network coverage by 42km, thus increasing its overall catchment area.

Given those statistics and facts, it may be difficult to replicate this model elsewhere, particularly in North America. A quick google search found that in Canada, none of the transit systems surveyed had farebox recovery ratios of less than 22%. And even in the US, where transit systems are often criticized for their large subsidies, most recover between 20-40% of their fares from tickets.

To further complicate matters, research in North America seems to suggest that many free transit systems tend to fail in the long run as they experience major challenges related to vandalism and hooliganism.

So does this automatically mean that this model is destined to fail in Canada and US?

Not quite. There have been several successful cases in the US such as Commerce, California and Island County, Washington — both of whom have operated relatively trouble-free for over 20 years.

But while those two instances are noteworthy, one of the most remarkable and least known free transit systems in the world is actually a gondola.

The Telluride/Mountain Village Gondola has been little-studied but has carried over 26 million passengers since it first opened in 1996.

Similar to the case in Châteauroux, the Telluride/Mountain Village Gondola model may not be applicable in all circumstances. However, given the success seen in Telluride and a growing movement/interest towards establishing zero-fare public transport systems, understanding how to implement and capitalize on CPT technology in free transit networks definitely deserve more attention and analysis.

Telluride Gondola transports 2.25 million passengers annually - that's almost a million more than the Portland Aerial Tram! Image by Flickr user Adrian P. Martin.



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01
Jun

2012

Weekly Roundup

A quick look at some of the highlights from around the world of Urban Gondolas, Gondola Transit, and Cable Propelled Transit:

  • New cable car project has been announced in Sarawak, Malaysia which will see it connect Pantai Damai and Kampung Pasir Panjang.
  • Since opening in 2003, the Rain Forest Aerial Tram in Dominica has announced that it will now close. Slow tourism numbers has affected operations and the system is reported to be in severe debt.
  • The Telluride gondola suffered a minor malfunction this week and 9 passengers and a dog has to be rescued. This is the first time the system required an evacuation since its opening in 1996.
  • Palm Springs Aerial Tram was temporarily closed when a truck crashed into a telephone pole, indirectly knocking out power to the Aerial Tram. The system is due to reopen on Tuesday.


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16
Dec

2011

Weekly Roundup: Emirates Air Line Debuts on Tube Map

New London Tube Map (With Emirates Air Line). Image via The Unfogger.

A few highlights from around the world of Urban Gondolas, Gondola Transit, and Cable Propelled Transit:



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21
Oct

2011

Weekly Roundup: Irish Cows Banned From Riding Dursey Island Cable Car

A new weight restriction on the Dursey Island Cable Car in Ireland threatens to impede the flow of . . . cattle?

A few highlights from around the world of Urban Gondolas, Gondola Transit, and Cable Propelled Transit:

  • Cattle farmers on the remote Dursey Island in Ireland are concerned that a weight restriction on the Dursey Island Cable Car will prevent them from moving their livestock to and from the island, effectively destroying a 2,000 year old cattle industry. We mention this only because we previously provided a video clip of this outdated system, but were completely unaware that the system was used for transporting cows. Has anyone else heard of such a practice? If so, please tell us in the comments below.
  • The Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum is presenting Design with the Other 90% Cities at the United Nations in New York City. The exhibit chronicles how developing world cities are leveraging design to improve the lives of its citizens. The Medellin Metrocable is among those design solutions. (Voluntary Disclosure: CUP Projects provided photographs to the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt for their coverage of the Medellin Metrocable.)
  • Edmonton, Alberta, Canada takes a major step towards installing a cable-drawn funicular system to connect their downtown to the North Saskatchewan River Valley. The Edmonton Journal seems to be the first to break this story, but gets tripped up calling using the word “gondola” as a synonym for “funicular.” No surprise, really, as problems with nomenclature have always been an issue (see here, here or here for example).
  • The Mountain Village Owners Association contemplates ways to keep Colorado’s iconoclastic Telluride Mountain Gondola running free of charge. For those unaware, the Telluride gondola is one of the only gondola systems in the world to be 100% from of charge to all users and acts as a local transport system connecting several mountain villages and recreation areas.
  • Back to Ireland: Is that picture up above not the most amazing thing you’ve seen in a while? I think the only thing that tops it for us is Tuffi the Elephant.


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20
Aug

2011

Weekly Roundup: Solar Powered Gondolas

Colorado's Telluride Gondola is set to be powered by solar panels with an extensive carbon offset policy. Image by flickr user Glenda Jeffrey.

A few highlights from around the world of Urban Gondolas, Gondola Transit, and Cable Propelled Transit:

  • Could the cable industry be taking aim at PRT? Indian Express reports that the world’s two largest CPT manufacturers – Doppelmayr Cable Car and Leitner Ropeways – have attended a pre-bid meeting in order to bid on a project to build India’s first Personal Rapid Transit system. CPT vs. PRT, this should be an interesting story to follow.


Want more? Purchase Cable Car Confidential: The Essential Guide to Cable Cars, Urban Gondolas & Cable Propelled Transit and start learning about the world's fastest growing transportation technologies.