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Oct 13, 2017
Questions, Research Issues, Thoughts

Being Feasible

Years ago, a colleague once remarked to me that feasibility analysis is nothing more than complex marketing — a tool used to advocate for that which has already been decided upon. It’s a comment that stuck with me over the years and has recently taken on new relevance to me. As we’ve repeatedly pointed out...

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Dec 08, 2015
Maokong Taipei, Public Transit, Questions, Singapore Cable Car

How to Price Your Urban Cable Car

It’s hard to blame officials in some cities for treating the fare structure of new public transport line as an afterthought. It’s not sexy stuff. However, for urban cable cars, the failure to put the time and energy to develop a proper fare model may ultimately hinder the project’s success. Whether your envisioned CPT line...

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Nov 25, 2015
Ask Tino, Infrastructure, Innovations, Questions, Statistics and Specifications

Maximum Travel Speed for a Cable Car

We recently received a great question from reader Roberto: I was wondering what is the maximum speed now registered in the world for a cable car. So far I know, reversible cable cars (43 kph, Portland, USA) go faster than the well known loop cable cars (27 kph, Val d’Isère, France), which is not clear to...

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Jul 13, 2015
Public Transit, Questions, Research & Development, Thoughts, Urban Planning & Design

Private Gondola Transport: A Sign of Things to Come?

Ropeways are built for many reasons: skiing, sightseeing, amusement, public transport, and private transport. Yes, that’s right private transport. It’s actually more common than you might think. We’ve reported examples on the Gondola project before – like the Kriens funicular, Terra del Mar funicular, and of course, some of the rich and famous have their...

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Jun 30, 2015
Public Transit, Questions, Thoughts

Would You Call This An Eye-Sore?

If you’ve ever been to Venice, you know that it is always busy and getting around is never easy. There are no roads, just canals and walkways between buildings which can suddenly shrink by 80%, courtesy of the unique and quaint if frustrating urban planning. If you’re in a hurry, learn to say ‘Permesso’ while...

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Feb 17, 2015
Questions, Research Issues, Thoughts

Assessing Intangibles in Transport Planning — Recreation, Chocolates & Proposals

As far as most transportation planners are concerned, urban transit systems should be evaluated based on major “function-related” items only (i.e. level of service, capacity, travel times, speeds, costs and etc). Such an analysis is appropriate in transit applications if the only objective is to move users from point A to point B in the...

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Jun 17, 2014
Questions, Thoughts

Cable Pet Transit

A recent conversation with guest contributor Ross Edgar brought up an interesting topic that’s yet to be discussed on the Gondola Project: cable cars and pets. This is a little surprising to us, especially since we ourselves have Joy, our very own office hound who’s been aboard countless gondola trips. In the US alone, the...

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Jun 19, 2013
Innovations, Questions

Curvo Ropeway: Non-Linear Aerial Urban Cable Cars by CSR

A great thing about researching CPT is that sometimes you never know what you’re going to stumble onto next. Recently, I came across a ropeway manufacturer in India called Conveyor & Ropeway Services where a few years back they announced that they’ve invented a new type of aerial transit called the CURVO Ropeway. Without going into much...

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Nov 28, 2012
Information Request, Questions

Double Loading Chairlift – Quick Silver Quad

One of the great things about blogging on the Gondola Project is that we never stop learning. Recently, one of our readers sent us a link about a “Double Loading” chairlift called the Quick Silver Quad which operates in Colorado’s Breckenridge Ski Resort.   Statistics from skilifts.org indicate that this system has a capacity of...

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Nov 06, 2012
Installations, Questions

What is up with the Dubai Cable Car?

It’s pretty cool to see cable cars that run on flat land along a coast or river. Actually, we really like this idea: it means great views for riders, proves the theory that cable cars can run along flat land, and really smartly makes us of space that would otherwise be either undevelop-able or taken...

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