This could leave the fixed-rail birds behind on a number of fronts. It would do best with a dedicated lane, but it can go just about anywhere.
Comments (13)
Never happen here. The Wise Ones (planners) know that healthier and happier communities are only possible if people can't get anywhere faster than by foot or speeding unicycle.
A growing number of medium-haul, curb-to-curb bus services may also make high-speed rail moot. They're based on the cheap "Chinatown buses" that run between Chinatowns on the East coast, but made more appealing and less sketchy with more comfortable coaches, online booking, and free WiFi. They fill the sweet spot between shorter trips for which you might as well drive and longer ones for which you might as well fly -- precisely the niche high-speed rail is supposed to fill. The ridership is mostly college students and young adults and others who need cut-rate fares, but that will change as airline tickets and gas prices continue to climb.
"We can build a butt-ugly luxury limosine that can travel 250 km/hr, but we had to stretch it way out, increase passenger capacity significantly, and put the "public transit" tag on it in order to overcome the horrendous fuel consumption".
Now I know why the Dutch don't built autos for export.
Faster than a speeding tram
More powerful than a trolley
Able to be built wholly on the public dime
Look! Up in the air, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, No. wait! it’s a bird on a plane! No..er..it’s Super bus!
Charamba, Douro 2008
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Road Work
Miles run year to date: 29
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Comments (13)
Never happen here. The Wise Ones (planners) know that healthier and happier communities are only possible if people can't get anywhere faster than by foot or speeding unicycle.
Posted by Mr. Grumpy | April 11, 2011 11:02 AM
250 km/h (about 150mph) should be just about right for the downtown bus mall.
Posted by Allan L. | April 11, 2011 11:07 AM
A growing number of medium-haul, curb-to-curb bus services may also make high-speed rail moot. They're based on the cheap "Chinatown buses" that run between Chinatowns on the East coast, but made more appealing and less sketchy with more comfortable coaches, online booking, and free WiFi. They fill the sweet spot between shorter trips for which you might as well drive and longer ones for which you might as well fly -- precisely the niche high-speed rail is supposed to fill. The ridership is mostly college students and young adults and others who need cut-rate fares, but that will change as airline tickets and gas prices continue to climb.
Posted by Eric | April 11, 2011 11:10 AM
The light rail gig may be up.
Choke on it insiders!
What no housing development?
Can't have that.
Posted by clinamen | April 11, 2011 11:52 AM
The light rail gig may be up. Choke on it insiders!
The light rail gig may be an "upchuck" on insiders!
There, I fixed it for ya.
Posted by Lawrence | April 11, 2011 12:05 PM
"We can build a butt-ugly luxury limosine that can travel 250 km/hr, but we had to stretch it way out, increase passenger capacity significantly, and put the "public transit" tag on it in order to overcome the horrendous fuel consumption".
Now I know why the Dutch don't built autos for export.
Posted by John Rettig | April 11, 2011 12:34 PM
They were making these back in the 70's; even created a movie about one that had nuclear power: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPpBGsFddao
Posted by Cal Knick | April 11, 2011 12:42 PM
That would make too much sense and not be wasteful enough.
Posted by Mr. Grumpy | April 11, 2011 1:30 PM
Faster than a speeding tram
More powerful than a trolley
Able to be built wholly on the public dime
Look! Up in the air, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, No. wait! it’s a bird on a plane! No..er..it’s Super bus!
Posted by Gibby | April 11, 2011 1:46 PM
RE: Super-Bus
- no bike racks
- no room for strollers or wheelchairs
- no standing room
etc.
Posted by Mike (one of the many) | April 11, 2011 4:19 PM
The Onion already covered this.
Posted by MJ | April 11, 2011 6:53 PM
But it's European! Therefore we HAVE to have it too!
Too bad about the money already spent on trolleys and light rail; they're so passe'.
Posted by Michelle | April 12, 2011 7:19 AM
Sexy but impractical.
This is what is taking over the intercity transportation industry:
http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2011/04/megabus-effect-success-story-of-low.html
Not sexy but practical and cheap, so the city will find a way to kill this in its sleep.
Posted by Maddog | April 12, 2011 4:34 PM