Well, I assume most people reading know that BART stands for Bay Area Rapid Transit, which is like our own little subway-ish system we've got out here in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Watching the news tonight, I sort of learned about a new system in the works with 18 enthusiastic companies in the San Jose and Santa Cruz areas called PRT: Personal Rapit Transit. Essentially several cities in the United States have already signed on to implement this new transportation system by 2030, which would really bring the United States up to speed with the world view of the future embodied by the Jetsons' creators, by having a network of rails high above city streets, teeming with personal podcars.
The podcar is kind of an interesting skyway transportation system. Supposedly it's not going to make BART obsolete, yet work in a complimentary manner. The PRT is as the name suggests, personal, and is not tied to predetermined schedules or anything like that. It is a roadway like most freeways and supposedly will only cost around 4 cents a mile to ride. The idea is something like this will free up some of our dependence on foreign oil and reduce our current pollution rates.
Currently the only existing system in the world similar to this is at the West Virginia University campus. Though as I type this, London's Heathrow Airport is already constructing such a network. The only other country besides the United States and England proposing this system is Dubai.... shocking. In fact, Madagascar City in Dubai is proposing to ban all cars once the PRT system is complete. Just something to think about.
But check out the simulated street view for San Jose after the PRT system:
Watching the news tonight, I sort of learned about a new system in the works with 18 enthusiastic companies in the San Jose and Santa Cruz areas called PRT: Personal Rapit Transit. Essentially several cities in the United States have already signed on to implement this new transportation system by 2030, which would really bring the United States up to speed with the world view of the future embodied by the Jetsons' creators, by having a network of rails high above city streets, teeming with personal podcars.
Past meets future. Bit of a stretch, maybe? Though, I haven't seen that dress come into style yet. I'm still holding out.
The podcar is kind of an interesting skyway transportation system. Supposedly it's not going to make BART obsolete, yet work in a complimentary manner. The PRT is as the name suggests, personal, and is not tied to predetermined schedules or anything like that. It is a roadway like most freeways and supposedly will only cost around 4 cents a mile to ride. The idea is something like this will free up some of our dependence on foreign oil and reduce our current pollution rates.Currently the only existing system in the world similar to this is at the West Virginia University campus. Though as I type this, London's Heathrow Airport is already constructing such a network. The only other country besides the United States and England proposing this system is Dubai.... shocking. In fact, Madagascar City in Dubai is proposing to ban all cars once the PRT system is complete. Just something to think about.
But check out the simulated street view for San Jose after the PRT system:
1 comment:
I can't wait to live like the Jetsons... we're getting close!
And D-U-H I'll take pictures of baseball in the spring! You mean the 20,000 you already have from me isn't enough?
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