Commute to Work in your Very Own Train

[incrediculous]

Trains on Demand (http://thecontaminated.com/ultra-future-personal-train/)

...another system, called ULTra (Urban Light Transport) and developed by the British company Advanced Transport Systems (ATS), also offers on-demand personal transport with virtually no waiting time to take individual passengers non-stop to their chosen destination. The system operates with a fleet of driverless electric vehicles, running on a network of elevated or ground level guided routes... read more. (http://thecontaminated.com/ultra-future-personal-train/)

This is destined to become our reality, if only because it combines the worst of both personal vehicles and public transportation. There's nothing train-like about them, outside of the fact that you're still guaranteed to find yourself sitting in a puddle of urine 5 out of 300 days a year.

And you can't even have the fun that comes with driving. You just sit there, alone, like a computer-generated dumbass with a suitcase (http://forum.dallasmetropolis.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=142&stc=1), tooting about at 30mph while the other guy zips by in his color-changing Lexus (http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-Lexus-Concept-Minority-Report.htm).

I don't know about you guys, but I just can't wait to hate this.

[Mballar]

I read about this yesrs ago. I think a system was proposed in North America.

[gshelton91]

here is another idea that i think would be good for areas around dart stations like at Park Ln. to connect a wider area to mass transit --- especially difficult around Central.

http://www.fuelfreetransit.com/

The fuel is the weight of people who want to use it

[aygriffith]

This is not that different from the orginal plans for the Las Colinas system. The same system that Las Colinas uses is used by the University of West Virginia by selecting where you want to go and the car takes you only there. It was always a shame that the Las Colinas system was never fully realized, now there is some joker in the car controling it via an emergency control panel that was never meant to control the vehicle full time.

[RobertB]

here is another idea that i think would be good for areas around dart stations like at Park Ln. to connect a wider area to mass transit --- especially difficult around Central.

http://www.fuelfreetransit.com/

The fuel is the weight of people who want to use it
(cue jokes about Americans and our love for McOvereating)

Seriously, though, how can you trust the design and engineering capabilties of an outfit that includes this boneheaded plan (http://www.fuelfreetransit.com/stop/) as "An Issue Of Great Concern Since September 11!"

[incrediculous]

Seriously, though, how can you trust the design and engineering capabilties of an outfit that includes this boneheaded plan as "An Issue Of Great Concern Since September 11!"

Crazed psuedo-engineers are all over the place. A carpenter in Illinois recently solved the world's environmental/transportation crises with an 8,000 pound pyramid full of batteries that rolls about on fork-lift wheels. Dream Car 123! (http://dreamcar123.com/videos/videos.htm)

Coincidentally or not, he's also the guy who makes crosses for school shootings (http://www.rrstar.com/niu/x1529758771).

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[VectorWega]

I was recently on the PRT system at WVU. It was built in 1975. So, i'm sure they could build something much better now. Overall the system was cool but had a few flaws:

1. No air-conditioning
2. Somewhat slow
3. Bumpy ride - like riding a wooden roller coaster at times.

[DTDdreamer]

The fuel is the weight of people who want to use it

Sweet... being one of the fattest cities in the nation we should have equally as fast trains!

That was for your RobertB

[darkblood]

I'm looking forward to technology installed in the floor & ceiling that turns vibrations into electricity.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/

This would be excellent, as you could provide a weeks worth of electricity for The Londoner in Addison just by their patrons drinking and socializing... well if all the patrons are like my friends anyway.

Just imagine half the cast of Scarborough Faire (45 people) in The Londoner's fireplace room. And then imagine only one waitress to handle them all... Poor girl... At least we tip well.