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Artists' Rendering of a Proposed Grand Canyon Gondola. Image via Adventure Journal.

A quick look at some of the things that happened this week in the world of cable cars, urban gondolas, and cable propelled transit:

• Here’s one that’s sure to be controversial and bogged down in legal challenges for eternity: The Navajo Nation and Phoenix-based developers have agreed to launch a feasibility study into developing a gondola in the Grand Canyon’s East Rim. Of course the project, to be named The Grand Canyon Escalade, t is fraught with opponents who have challenged it from “environmental, historical, spiritual and aesthetic reasons.” In other words: Don’t hold your breath for this one.

• The London Thames Cable Car / Emirates AirLine surpasses the 1,000,000 rider mark since opening in late June. It will be interesting to see how ridership holds up after the end of the Paralympic Games, but according to the Wharf, the system is boasting an impressive 20,000 riders per day (so maybe we’re wrong).

• After a reader suggests using a gondola as a transit connection to the University of California, Santa Cruz campus, local blogger Romana Turner points out that Santa Cruz County’s Regional Transportation Commission had explored the possibility as far back as 1993. Apparently of the options explored a “cog rail option was found to provide the highest level of projected ridership and best cost effectiveness score.” This seems more than a little odd given the cost of cog rail technology. For anyone interested in digging a little deeper, apparently there are studies here and here that can illuminate this a bit more.