Let’s consider the innovations the Cable Propelled Transit industry has developed, proven and/or popularized in the last 15 years:
- The 3S
- Corner turning
- Intermediary stations
- Full integration with other transit modes
- The Reintroduction of bottom-supported Cable Cars and Mini-Metros
- The Hybrid Funicular
- Heated Gondolas
- Air-Conditioned Gondolas
- Operability in winds above 100 km/hr (the Funitel)
- The Urban Concept vehicle
The Light Rail Industry? Well they’re still touting their “low floor” innovation and not much else.
Is that comparison fair? Probably not. After all, things like heating, a/c, intermediary stops and corner turning are all standard for LRT. The point, however is this: Cable’s caught up. Cable may not be there yet, but they’re very, very, very close.
I think it important for everyone to realize that the urban market is very new for the cable industry. It’s easy to say things like “how hard could it be to fix that problem!?” I do it all the time. But a degree of “forgiveness” needs to occur. We’ve thought all these things through from an urban perspective, but the industry hasn’t – yet. That’s changing rapidly and I’m certain we’ll being to see major innovations occurring over the next decade.
That’s not to let the cable industry off the hook. They’ve got to be aggressive, diligent and pro-active. If the industry wants to be transit – as opposed to ski lifts – they’re going to have pull out all the stops and devote time, energy and money to make this technology the best they can. Simply calling a ski lift “transit” (or “CPT”) won’t cut it.
It’s got to be transit.
Better yet: Instead of just catching up to standard transit modes, now’s the time to eclipse them. Lap them. Beat them at their own game. Currently, cable is an Insurgent Technology, but now it’s time for the industry to get their game face on.