Commuting By Gyrocar

” … the gyroscopes would be initially powered by flywheels wound-up in the morning, and would continue to be powered throughout the day from energy supplied by solar panels mounted on the roofs of the cars. pods are stilted on expandable legs that can both contract and enlarge depending on the context, meaning they can pass under bridges and vehicular overpasses with ease. inside, passengers sit in rows just like they would on a subway or bus, or — alternatively — ride-in-style inside luxurious pods that include comfortable couches and TV sets.”

–” gyroscopic public transportation: your future commute?” designboom

An amusing, elaborate fantasy. Much more fun than those Chinese straddling buses.

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Subway Blues

 

“Subway Blues,” written and performed by Mabel Scott in 1950.

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Driverless Bus

A robotic bus in Trikala, Greece, is serving city passengers for free. In the first six months of operation there have been no accidents or complaints about rude drivers.

The Blessing of the Buses

“The quality of life in cities has much to do with systems of transport, which are often a source of much suffering for those who use them. Many cars, used by one or more people, circulate in cities, causing traffic congestion, raising the level of pollution, and consuming enormous quantities of non-renewable energy. This makes it necessary to build more roads and parking areas which spoil the urban landscape. Many specialists agree on the need to give priority to public transportation. Yet some measures needed will not prove easily acceptable to society unless substantial improvements are made in the systems themselves, which in many cities force people to put up with undignified conditions due to crowding, inconvenience, infrequent service and lack of safety.”

—  Laudato si’, Encyclical Letter of Pope Francis on care for our common home

Metro Shuttle Buses

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority closed the Smithsonian, L’Enfant Plaza, Federal Center SW, and Capitol South subway stations for construction work on tracks and station platforms this past weekend. Metro buses were used to bridge the rail line gaps. Since subway trains can haul 1,000 to 1,400 passengers and a bus fits only about 75, it took lots of buses. The logistics reminded us of the Berlin Airlift (June 27, 1948 to May 12, 1949) when British and U.S. airplanes flew food and coal into West Berlin, which had been blockaded by the Soviets.

Halloween Bus, Anacostia

Westbound Circulator bus, Anacostia Metro stop, 7:00 PM October 31, 2013.

Trains, Cameras, and Crime

The Chicago Transit Authority spent $26 million installing 3,600 surveillance cameras in stations and on trains throughout the rail system. What happened? Crime increased.

“Surveillance cameras aren’t cure-alls—they’re tools, and imperfect ones at that. They can be easily foiled by the latest in apparel technology, including hooded sweatshirts and hats. They tend to break. They are susceptible to dirt, and bad weather, and darkness. And even if a suspect is photographed, he still has to be identified and located, which, for overworked police officers, can be a daunting task. While there are more than a million closed-circuit surveillance cameras in London, a police report found that, in 2008, one crime was solved per 1,000 cameras—an abysmal ratio.”

— “Chicago Installed Thousands of Cameras on its Rail Platforms. Crime Jumped by 21 Percent.” Justin Peters, Slate

CTA’s response: It’s installing another 850 cameras.

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Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

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Preview: New Metrorail Cars

Metro is previewing the new Model 7000 railcar, and it falls far short of our design concept (above).  It’s a Kawasaki. Let the Good Times Roll! 

March 18th: International Bus Driver Appreciation Day

Today is International Bus Driver Appreciation Day but there’s no holiday website and the bus drivers’ union doesn’t mention it. The holiday is the idea of Seattle bus rider Hans Gerwitz. Why March 18th? On that date in 1662, city buses premiered in Paris (for the record: they flopped).

DC Streetcar, 40 NW Route

This is great 1950s footage of Washington DC’s streetcars. The system shut down in 1962, and the car barn you see here has gone condo. The District is building a new electric surface transit line but, sadly, it won’t be taking this route.

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