This past summer I brought attention to the Rheinseilbahn in Koblenz, Germany. In a past post I suggested it was likely a strong example of an Urban Gondola given its innovative design. That opinion, however, was based upon second and third hand knowledge, not first-hand experience. Last month, however, I had the opportunity to visit...
I was recently presented with the following argument against Urban Gondolas: “If it’s such a good idea, why aren’t there any famous urban cable cars?” Firstly, fame does not equal quality. There’s plenty of famous products, people and ideas that have been or are famous now but likely won’t see the light of day a...
Sometimes important things are hidden away in far off (or difficult to access) places. Other times, they’re nearby but finding information very difficult. In any case, here are nine cable systems that have great potential for expanding our knowledge about Cable-Propelled Transit but are so isolated, bizarre or obscure, research is painfully scant. I suspect...
Far too often people talk about cable as a convenient technology for tackling topographical challenges. But that’s where it ends. It’s a niche technology, they claim, nothing more. In other words: Cable’s ability to avoid physical obstacles is used as an argument against it. How much sense does that make? The great irony is that...
If you’re expecting to see urban gondolas and cable propelled transit systems zipping through you city any time soon, I’m here to tell you something: You’re wrong. Sorry to disappoint you. Sure, with the right political will and visionary planners, there will be successes here and there, but things won’t change overnight. Things just don’t...
It’s cheap and easy politics to blame the “lazy” unions; that drivers should be doing more than they already are. Frankly speaking, I don’t want my transit drivers doing more. I want them doing less. If my life is in their hands, I don’t want them dealing with transfers, tickets or irate customers. I want...
The first and most important thing necessary to understand about Cable Cars as opposed to aerial cable technologies is this: The two technologies are not fundamentally different. Knowing your way around Gondolas and Aerial Trams will help your knowledge about Cable Cars immensely. Both are characterized by passive vehicles being propelled along guideways for support....
The internet is all a-buzz right now with the recent announcement of a proposed Urban Gondola system spanning the Thames River in East London for the 2012 Olympics. Nevermind the fact that everyone seems to be calling it the London Cable Car – it’s a gondola – it’s an exciting idea that’s raising a lot...
Now that we’ve wrapped our discussion of the eight major Aerial Technologies that exist in the cable transit world, we’re going to shift our focus next week to Cable Cars. The technologies – most familiar as San Francisco’s rickety old vehicles – have made dramatic advances in the last 15 years. But like aerial systems,...
Kelly writes, I am also interested in cable propelled transit and am a big fan of The Gondola Project. Anyway, I just worked out some numbers on the Funitel at the resort where I work (Squaw Valley) and I thought I would share them with you. Squaw Valley Stats 28 legal limit (This would be...