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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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Mar 28, 2012
Statistics and Specifications

Kilometers & Miles

I just came across an old article on Mother Nature Network that combines my favorite sequence (yes, I have a favorite) with a common conversion issue. As an American I think in miles but as someone who reads about, works with, and travels on roads in, well, any other country, I often/sometimes/usually come across speeds...

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Feb 02, 2012
Statistics and Specifications, Thoughts, Uncategorized

Can Transit Learn From Wade Boggs?

Professional sports and public transit are two very different things, I admit that. But contemplate, for a second, the amount of statistical scrutiny we give to the athletic diversions in our lives and how much we attention we pay to the statistics of public transportation. Now contemplate the robustness of the statistics gathered (and are...

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Aug 18, 2010
Light Rail & Streetcars, Statistics and Specifications

Speed Is Not Dependent Upon Technology

The Toronto Star reports today that the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and a waterfront development agency are at loggerheads over a planned new streetcar corridor. The essence of the conflict is this: The Toronto Transit Commission wants to experiment with track design on a new streetcar route to speed up Toronto’s failingly low streetcar speeds...

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Aug 17, 2010
Statistics and Specifications

Take A Seat

During peak loads/rush hours gondolas have a seat to standee ratio of around 3:1 or 4:1. That is, at crush loads there will be three or four people sitting for every one person whose standing. And Light Rail, buses or subways? Around 1:1 or 2:1. In an age where transit agencies are finally talking about...

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