Buses are good
But for rapid intercity travel, the rail network should really be improved. In an ideal (my ideal, anyway) world, trains would ferry people between large metros, while inter-city buses deliver people...
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Thanks for the link Hank, keep up the good work. Its funny how actually the lowest tech things - bicycle, walking, train, bus - are the most environmentally friendly transportation options. Not only do...
View ArticleBus problems
Even if the buses are posh and the fares cheap, the buses still share the roads with cars and trucks. That makes them susceptible to delays beyond their control. This issue can be resolved by trains,...
View ArticleMotorcycles?
Any idea where motorcycles fit in this equation? My motorcycle gets 75mpg. http://www.fuelly.com/driver/sirtofek/rebel Typical American motorcycles get between 40-60. - Kris
View ArticleQuestions
Why does Amtrak so much worse than "rail transit" considering IT IS rail transit? And where is the "carpool with a prius" option? - looselycoupled
View ArticleCapacity factor makes a huge difference.
When I see a city bus during midday, there are often only a few passengers (I don't live in a dense large city), so 1/10 full might be typical. It may be 3/4 full or more during rush hour though. So...
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Those solo SUV/car numbers, I'm betting they weren't generated using the 14-21 MPG BMW 750ii (car) and 20-27 MPG Honda CR-V (SUV). Bit of bias in the listing, I'd say. Better to list a couple of...
View ArticlePoshing up the bus system
George Monbiot's pushed a similar line in his book, arguing that the efficiency edge busses have over most other transport means that a large scale switch to bussing (using the best route designs...
View Article$$ bus fare?
an interesting viewpoint. i do have issues with hank's recommendation - "My environmental innovation for the day would be to posh up the bus system a bit, increase fares by a fraction, and make busses...
View Articlethere's an untapped sweetspot
Ok, why is a van, used for a vanpool, based on such a heavy vehicle? They use (from Ford) the F-2 or 350 chassis for these little vans. Minivans can carry 7 people with engines that are half the size....
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Lets not forget that trains, not so long ago, were SERIOUSLY polluting in their steam days. All technology can be can be improved with the right will and incentives. - Piers Headley
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In response to the last comment, yes trains were extremely dirty, but the fact that a few monopolistic corporations controlled the railways meant that it was relatively easy to replace the older...
View Articletitle a bit misleading
what advanced technology? will buses be sporting new lithium ion batteries or running on natural gas or what? - rojelio
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Rail is very expensive compared with buses. The sweet spot for buses is probably 100 to 400 mile intercity transit. There is no reason why you can't make very comfortable buses - you see many in...
View ArticleRE: looselycoupled
I actually live on the west coast in an area where rail traffic is very heavy and I think I can explain the difference between rail transit and Amtrack. It is not just Amtrack but all commuter lines....
View ArticleArchitect
I used to take rail transit, commuter rail MARC, each car = 150 in the morning. 200/car in the evening. 50/car? LOL. - Bill
View ArticleRE: questions
Amtrak trains run on diesel fuel while 'rail transit' probably refers to electric commuter trains which are more efficient and can draw from renewable sources? I really appreciate this graph! - Phil
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Buses lightly loaded off-peak? Have 2 fleets, one of buses for peak times and one of minibuses for lighter periods. With some clever application of GPS and computers you could even use the minibuses to...
View ArticleNeed another item
Your list is missing one option that solves most of the problems people have with the other options. Oh, and it belongs at the bottom of your graph. www.skytran.net seems to be the best option because...
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