Posts Tagged: Transit

21
Dec

2015

The Grandmother Test

I recently met someone who disapproves of this whole Urban Gondola concept – which is fine, you’re entitled to your own opinion. He said it’s hard enough to get his grandmother to ride the subway (because she finds it terrifying), let alone a gondola.

According to The Grandmother Test (yeah, it should be called that) we should therefore stop everyone from building subways entirely. Probably not going to happen.

Yet when I pointed out the logical problem of The Grandmother Test, he basically just said urban gondolas are stupid. He wasn’t a skeptic; he was a cynic.

Whether it’s urban gondolas or any other great idea, if you spot someone who fails (passes?) The Grandmother Test, just walk away and don’t waste your time. There’s nothing you can do there.



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.

08
Sep

2015

Reviewing Good Advice: Low Profile Urban Gondolas

This piece was first published on The Gondola Project in 2010 but it is still highly relevant and useful. It’s about keeping your head low to the ground being unobtrusive; useful advice from a Canadian.

There’s a story about Cable Propelled Transit, Aerial Ropeways and Urban Gondolas that only hurts the technology’s future. Unfortunately, the industry does little to stop the spread of this story.

The story is simple: If you build an urban gondola, you’ll have vehicles flying over tall buildings, hundreds of feet in the air!

This story is bad for cable. Here’s why:

Read more



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28
Nov

2013

Google Transit View: Rail, Subway, Airports and… Cable Cars!

We briefly interrupt our scheduled Photo of the Week with an exciting new development from Google.

Starting today, the search engine will let users preview dozens of major global transit locations worldwide with their newest Street View function. This includes 16 airports, 50+ train stations and get this, even the Ngong Ping 360 and Peak Tram in Hong Kong!

Ngong Ping 360 Transit View: Click Here or Image

Ngong Ping 360 Preview

Ngong Ping 360 Preview. Screenshot from Google.

Peak Tram Transit View: Click Here or Image

Peak Tram Preview

Peak Tram Preview. Screenshot from Google.

Map of all the covered locations:


Without having said, this option will surely help visitors navigate tourists hotspots before making their trip.

But more importantly (at least from a transit planning perspective), is that this function gives practitioners and the general public an entirely new tool to understand the integration, layout, and design of various transport facilities.

As you make your way through the system, you can literally see and experience almost anything or everything at the same time — right down the nitty-gritty details of how much snacks cost or how line queues can be designed.

The fact that two cable systems were included alongside other major transit locations is perhaps a sign of another trend — that is, urban cable systems are finally getting the recognition they deserve.

While not all urban CPT lines are fully integrated into their public transit network, they are undoubtedly vital pieces of transport infrastructure for both tourists and locals alike.

I’m not sure about you guys and maybe I’m dreaming a little, but I certainly can’t wait until the day Google maps out each and every cable car system.



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05
Mar

2012

Techno-Squabbles and Dual Mode Vehicles – RailBus, BusRail

DMV vehicles were developed based on a collaborative effort between Nissan and Japan Rail Hokkaido. Image from Wikipedia.

Last Thursday, we briefly looked at AutoTrams – an attempt to combine the best (or worst, depending on your perspective) of both worlds in rail and bus technology. We’ve had a fairly robust debate in our comments section on the benefits and limitations of such a configuration. Then I thought, what would happen if you take this idea to the next logical step?

To my surprise, such a concept exists and it’s called the DMV (Dual Mode Vehicle) – a vehicle capable of running on both rail tracks and rubber wheels. Apparently, this concept is not entirely new and  first attempted during the 1930s in England but failed due to excessive time required to switch modes (bus to rail and vice versa) and costs related to develop system.

A DMV vehicle can switch between modes in less than 15 seconds. Image by Hokkaido Railway Company.

But this time around, the DMV is experiencing substantial success. First started in 2005, the vehicle is now under testing in Japan and has enabled Japan Rail Hokkaido to continue providing convenient, point-to-point and profitable (important because existing rail services have been in debt due to low ridership) transport for small, rural towns with declining populations. According to some new sources in Japan, the system is expect to go public sometime this year.

Given the flexibility, uniqueness, and innovativeness of these vehicles, they’re surprisingly not that expensive and within the right context, may be able to fulfill a niche within the urban transit market. According the Miami Herald, it costs USD $250,000 for a 28 passenger vehicle with low fuel and maintenance costs (for immediate comparison purposes – light rail vehicle: ~$3,000,000 (link 1, link 2); trolley bus: $850,000-1,300,000; standard regular bus: $250,000-400,000; hybrid bus: $480,000-750,000 (link 1, link 2).

The best part of this vehicle lies in its duality. The flexibility of a bus, but the comfort and appeal of rail. Well… maybe not appeal, the design needs some work, but it’s not impossible to fix. You may exclaim, what about capacity!? It’s too low!! Based on online sources, vehicles can be linked. See for yourself.

2 vehicles at 28 passenger capacities = 56 passengers. Image by kitouin.fc2web.com.

3x28 = 84 passengers (in case you were wondering if three vehicles can be linked). Image by Asahi.com

So could the successful implementation of a DMVs put an end to some of the meaningless technological squabbles? Since it’s both a bus and rail vehicle, maybe some transit specialists and decision makers can set aside their differences and instead, concentrate on improving transit service.

It’s hard to argue for BRT or LRT if the vehicle is both rail and bus at the same time. But then again, given the techno-zealotry that exists in transit planning, it could spawn an entirely new ball game. BRT vs. LRT vs. DMV anyone?

For more pictures of this system, click here.



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.

02
Oct

2011

Sunday Statshot with Nick Chu: Science of Walking and Transit

 

Being a pedestrian in Toronto offers many advantages over driving: 1) It's a healthy form of exercise; and 2) Free entertainment from "Jesus Man" - a devotee responsible for more heart attacks than McDonalds and Burger King combined. Image by flickr user Metrix X.

A quick look at some of the things that make walking and riding transit work (or not):

Year when humans started walking: 1.5 million years ago

Year when walking became a sport: 19th century (1801-1900)

Year when most North Americans forgot how to walk: Post WWII

Percentage of Americans not meeting 30 minute a day recommendation for physical activity: 50

Percentage reduction in oil consumption in US if more trips were walked than driven: 38

Average number of steps taken during a transit trip (Montreal): 1250

Round trip: 2500

Daily recommended number of steps per day: 10,000

Hours of walking to achieve 10,000 steps: 1

Percentage of recommended daily exercise achieved by 2500 steps: 25

Average stride length: 2.5 ft (0.762m)

Average Walking Speed: 4.5km/h

Time to walk 1250 meters: 13 minutes

Transit trips requiring most steps to least steps: Train > Subway > Bus

Dollars saved from obesity-related medical costs through additional walking associated with public transit: $5500 per person

Gender that walks more on average during transit trip: Men

Gender that jaywalks more: Men

American city most dangerous for pedestrians: Orlando

Canada: Toronto

Percentage of pedestrians seriously injured by motor vehicles in UK: 21

Percentage of pedestrians seriously injured by bicycles in UK: 22

World’s worst pedestrian: Richard Ashcroft



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.

12
Jan

2011

7 Mind-Blowing Informal Transit Modes (That Don’t Involve A Gondola)

Image by flickr user Arturo Sotillo.

People gotta’ get places. That’s why transit exists.

And if the government or public sector can’t provide that transit, you can be certain the private sector will.  Whether for better or for worse, they’ll provide things like these:

ANY CHARACTER HERE

Read more



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09
Nov

2010

A Silver Bullet Urban Gondola Transit System

If I could think of one “Silver Bullet Urban Gondola Transit System” – that is a system that perfectly demonstrates the concept of Urban Gondolas and Cable Propelled Transit, I’d imagine this:
  1. Integrated by fare. The system must use the same fare system as the rest of the city’s transit grid. It must be a part of the system. Transfers have to be included, free of charge.
  2. Physically integrated. The system must allow for easy transfers between modes in whatever way is common to that city’s existing transfer system.
  3. Multiple stations. Even if the first two are accomplished, a point-to-point system still won’t do it. If the system is point-to-point, people will still believe the technology is only capable of such, nothing more. Multiple stations are essential.
  4. Corners. Not essential, but important. People still often believe corners to be impossible. A system with corners would show the world what the technology can do.
  5. A 3S. Again; not essential, but important. It’s important to eliminate the ski lift ported into cities image. The 3S changes all that. Even better, how about Urban Concept vehicles?
  6. Hot & Cold. This one barely needs explaining. Heated and air-conditioned vehicles is an absolute prerequisite.
  7. Zero topography. The only topographical challenges the system must overcome are buildings and/or traffic. Nothing else. No rivers, no mountains, no steady and slight inclines, no nothing. Flat is what we’re talking about here. Why? Because until a system such as this is built, people will continue to believe the technology is only appropriate for conquering natural obstacles.

So far many systems exist demonstrating one or more of the above. What we need to see is one that demonstrates all of the above.



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.