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Jul 26, 2012
Just For Fun, Questions

Gondolas & Proposals

  From a technical standpoint, we know that urban gondolas can provide many distinct advantages (think low headways, high capacities and etc.). But what about the less tangible technological benefits? We often argue that cable transit has the ability to appeal to the psychological and emotional aspects of riding transit. Now as a case in point,...

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Mar 21, 2012
Innovations, Public Transit, Questions, Thoughts

Aerial Rapid Transit – Adding Flying Vehicles to the Mix

Over the past week, we’ve received a lot of attention about: Driver Assisted Cars – On the Brink of a Transport Revolution? Yesterday, Christian made an insightful and thought-provoking comment about how some standard airplane technologies, such as the GPS, tend to appear in cars 15-20 years later. But what about the ability to fly… Science-fiction shows have...

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Mar 19, 2012
Just For Fun, Public Transit, Questions

Spare some change? Shangqiu, Henan (China) Public Transport

Fare collection in transit systems have evolved dramatically in the last decades with many large agencies opting for electronic payment systems such as the Oyster Card (London) and Octopus Card (Hong Kong). However, in many places around the world, many people who are unfamiliar with this form of payment still choose to pay using regular...

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Mar 14, 2012
Innovations, Public Transit, Questions, Thoughts

Driver Assisted Cars – On the brink of a transport revolution?

Ever increasing urban populations are leading cities to focus more heavily on improving public transit infrastructure through the construction of rail, bus, and even cable lines. With such an extensive road network in North America, many cities and states find it difficult to further invest in additional infrastructure. Still, car congestion ensues — an issue...

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Mar 06, 2012
Innovations, Questions, Thought Experiments, Thoughts

Dual Mode Gondolas – Hook and Anchor

Over the past week and half, we’ve discussed two hybrid/dual-mode transit technologies – AutoTram and DMVs. To build on this topic, I was contemplating if such a concept could apply to Cable Propelled Transit (CPT). I asked myself: what if a gondola cabin could be both propelled from above and below? Well, I decided to whip...

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Mar 01, 2012
Infrastructure, Innovations, Other Transit Techs, Public Transit, Questions, Urban Planning & Design

Transit Aesthetics – AutoTram / BusRail

When a city plan is planning a new transit infrastructure project, a lot of time is often spent deliberating over which technology should be implemented. This discussion generally floats back and for between bus and rail (and more recently, sometimes even CPT). For many cash-strapped cities looking for quick wins and cost-effective mass transit solutions,...

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Feb 29, 2012
Just For Fun, Questions, Thoughts

Gondola Tunes

Commuting to work on public transit can give you a chance to catch up on sleep , read, do work, avoid the hassle of finding parking, etc etc. However, it can also be stressful — overcrowding, lack of personal space and unfamiliarity with transit routes can all be frustrating. But now the Silver Queen Gondola in Aspen,...

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Feb 27, 2012
Questions, Research Issues

Asking About Urban Gondola Transit

Recently we’ve been receiving a lot of email requests for details about gondola and cable car transit technology. Often, the requests have been coming from university students asking for help with assigned projects. The pace of requests have only increased since my recent talk with the Alberta Professional Planners Institute and a proposal for a...

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Aug 10, 2011
Cable Transit Industry, Marketing Issues, Questions

EcoCities and Cable: Tianjin Ecocity (Photos Summer 2011 Status)

On a recent trip to China, I had the opportunity to visit a site that few planners outside of China have yet to see. First announced in 2008, Tianjin Ecocity is a large, ecological development designed to encourage sustainable building and living practices and promote future “green” developments. Not to mention this is possibly the...

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Jul 29, 2011
Gondola Project Forum, Marketing Issues, Questions

Forum Fridays: Homemade Cable Systems

Would you go for a ride with the Flying Men of Yungas Valley? Thanks to everyone who visited and posted on the forum this past week. Introductions were made however no jokes were submitted so this week instead of featuring the best joke I’d like to post a new discussion topic: As we’ve seen on...

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