Image by AveLardo
April, 2010
29
Apr
Apr
2010
Bus vs. Rail
Bus Rapid Transit vs. Light Rail Transit. Currently that’s the major transit debate in the english-speaking world.
Each have their advocates and their detractors and each have their own list of positives and negatives. And each want each other’s share of the market.
Problem is, BRT and LRT aren’t the only combatants. While BRT and LRT duke it out with each other, they both have to contend with the private automobile driver who doesn’t want to see an inch of road space given over to public transit, especially via semi-private rights-of-way.
The private automobile lobby is strong and large simply by virtue of sheer numbers. The vast majority of commuters use private vehicles, not public transit. This means BRT and LRT must also contend with politicians, justifiably frightened that a new light rail or bus corridor will hurt their prospects in upcoming elections.
I suspect drivers aren’t against public transit; they just don’t want to see it clogging roads and increasing already long travel times. It’s hard to argue against that.
So why not take the High Road? It’s difficult to imagine drivers arguing against CPT, given that the technology frees up road space. My guess is, drivers would probably rally behind the idea.
28
Apr
Apr
2010
Cable Propelled Transit is Bundle-Free
I steadfastly support online file-sharing and streaming sites, legal or otherwise. iTunes? That’s great, too.
I support these services because I refuse to pay for television channels and shows that I don’t watch (or album tracks I don’t listen to). And because it is near impossible to use a cable television service that doesn’t force you to purchase shows and channels you don’t watch through ‘bundles,’ I’ve chosen to take my business to the pirates.
Pirates let you watch what you want and I like that.
The same goes for telecom companies. My internet service provider forces me to pay for a cable television connection even though I don’t even own a television! Their only major competitor, meanwhile, has a company policy to only provide internet service to those customers who already have a landline with them.
Ideas and principles are often the same. If you are pro-transit, you’re expected to be anti-bus, pro-light rail, and anti-car. It’s hard to be pro-transit and pro-car at the same time because the Bundle of Transit Ideals says that’s not a possible configuration.
You may only subscribe to our Pro-Transit Service if you first purchase our Anti-Car System.
We’re sorry, Good Quality Transit is not available to users of Strong, Competitive Markets.
Our Fast, Available and Efficient package? Hmmm? No, that only comes with our Private Automobile subscription.
Well what if your worldview doesn’t conform to their Bundle of Ideals? Where do you go? My guess, again, is to go with the pirates. Go with the people on the edges because they’ll let you pick whatever Bundle of Ideals you want. They’re not in it for the control.
So here’s the deal: If you want to be Pro-Cable, do it. You want to be Pro-Anything-Else, you can do that too. Anti-Something? Not a problem. Starting today, Cable Propelled Transit is Bundle-Free.
27
Apr
Apr
2010
TTC Triples Price of Metropass (For Some)
Last week the Toronto Star carried an article titled Free Metropasses latest Condo Perk. The title suggests a pleasant surprise; a quality gesture designed to enhance the lives of Torontonians. It is a ‘perk’ after all.
Problem is, this is no perk. This is a City-mandated program which in essence triples the price of Metropasses for new condo purchasers in Toronto. Let me explain:
The new program forces condominium developers in high-density areas of Toronto to provide a year’s supply of transit passes to purchasers of units in new developments as of April 28th. Howard Moscoe, the City Councillor who introduced the policy says its “a carrot that will get people onto public transit.”
Developers, however, will bury the cost of those Metropasses (and their related administration costs) into the price of the condo units. Here’s where the problem comes in.
According to the TTC, the annual cost of a Metropass in Toronto is $1,068. According to Stephen Dupuis of the Building Industry and Land Development Association this will add a systemic cost of $1,400 to each new unit.
Now, let’s amortize that price over the lifespan of a typical mortgage . . . See where I’m going with this? Because the price of the Metropass is now built into the price of a new home, it becomes subject to the mortgage interest.
Using the TD Canada Trust Mortgage Calculator, let’s assume monthly payments, a 6.65% interest rate and a 30-year payment schedule. Monthly mortgage payments on that single Metropass therefore work out to $8.90, meaning that the price of this $1,068 Metropass balloons to $3,204, triple the original price.
Whether you’re pro-transit or not, I don’t see how anyone can think this is a good idea. It basically punishes those people who should be rewarded for choosing transit-friendly, dense, urban living.
26
Apr
Apr
2010
6 Iconic (and Important) Aerial Trams
The other day I was pretty hard on Aerial Trams for being obsolete, expensive and inefficient members of the cable transit family. Because of their place in history, however, many of the most iconic and important cable transit systems ever built were Aerial Trams, a point I failed to mention. Here are 6 of them:
6. The Vanoise Express
The Vanoise Express in France. Image by hchalkley at flickr.
One of the world’s only double-decker Aerial Trams, this Dual Shuttle system in France can carry a whopping 200 people in each cabin! Opened in 2003, the system was shut down in 2007 for repairs after a vehicle operator failed to slow the vehicle down upon entering the station. The accident caused no injuries and the system was reopened the following season. Read more
25
Apr
Apr
2010
Size Matters
The Norsjö Aerial Ropeway is the longest cable transit system in the world. Image by Silva_D. All rights reserved. Image used with permission by the creator.
The Norsjö Aerial Ropeway in Sweden is the longest aerial cable system in the world for transporting passengers. At 13.2 kilometers long, this system is: Read more
24
Apr
Apr
2010
Aerial Technologies, Lesson 5: Aerial Trams
The Portland Aerial Tram. Image by functoruser at flickr.
Aerial Trams are the granddaddies of cable transit. They’re big, they’re aggressive and what they do, they do really well. Problem is, they can’t do much. They’re a completely antiquated technology due to their lack of detachability.
Like BDG or 3S systems, Aerial Trams use one or two stationary ropes for support while a second or third moving rope provides the propulsion. But unlike BDG and 3S systems the Aerial Tram’s grip is fixed and cannot be decoupled from the propulsion rope during operations. This means that corners are all but impossible in an Aerial Tram configuration and intermediary stations are limited to single mid-points along the line. These mid-stations are incredibly rare. Read more
