A quick look at some of the things that happened this week in the world of urban gondolas, cable cars and cable propelled transit:
$450 Million Phase 2 Breaks Ground (La Paz, Bolivia)
Faster than you can say Teleferico La Paz-El Alto, the second phase of the already largest network of urban transit gondolas has started. Last week, Line Blue broke ground while civil works for the Orange Line and White Line began yesterday. In total, phase 2 will comprise 6 new cable car lines and extend the existing network by 20.3km!
Slums as a Cultural Product (Rio, Brazil)
Former no-go zones for tourists, favelas (the Brazilian Portuguese for slums), are becoming cultural products. According to a recent doctoral thesis, modern visitors to Rio de Janeiro still visit Sugar Loaf and Corcovado but are increasingly interested in local lifestyles. The urban cable car in the Complexo do Alemao favela makes visiting favelas easier. Promoters have demonstrated flashy creativity, even naming one tour, “Route Map of the Prince” after Prince Harry’s visit in 2012.
Artic Town Plans Cable Car (Kiruna, Sweden)
News reports suggest that a town in Northern Sweden, Kiruna, will completely relocate itself to make room for a mine expansion. As part of the $375 million development project, a 11km (7 mile) cable car system is in the works. With winter temperatures dropping to -30 degrees Celsius, it’s a good thing that cable cars were designed for ski resorts!