Revolutionary new transport system

January 18, 2002 3:03 PM

Revolutionary new transport system ---looks good to me. Got to hand it to the Brits...
posted by scotty (13 comments total)

Actually, you have to hand it to the University of Minnesota.
posted by mrbula at 3:13 PM on January 18, 2002

I don't know about all that, but I've ridden this one at WVU a few times. It's been running since 1975 according to this.
posted by whatnotever at 3:25 PM on January 18, 2002

Sounds nice, but the RUF looks more revolutionary to me.
posted by c3o at 3:34 PM on January 18, 2002

Someday, people will build cities around this!
posted by webmutant at 3:52 PM on January 18, 2002

bahh, I want a flying car! heh
posted by BlitzK at 3:58 PM on January 18, 2002

Looks like something from Sleeper
posted by gazingus at 4:48 PM on January 18, 2002

The Segway will make this useless! Repent!
posted by noisemartyr at 5:19 PM on January 18, 2002

That University of Minnesota link is hilarious. They'll travel at 30MPH "or more"? I hope it's a hell of a lot more, like triple. Why is 30MPH considered "rapid" when I can go twice that on the highway?
posted by kindall at 6:02 PM on January 18, 2002

What I want to know is, does it go through the Super Speed Tunnel?
posted by toddshot at 7:53 PM on January 18, 2002

yeah, like i'm still waiting for those maglev trains shooting through tunnels with the air sucked out of them :) someday!
posted by kliuless at 8:44 PM on January 18, 2002

This reminds me a lot of the car system in Logan's Run.
posted by Dillenger69 at 8:45 PM on January 18, 2002

users don't care how revolutionary a technology is comparing to other related revolutionary technology, the important thing is that it's already there, implemented, convenient for the using. take vhs's victory over beta for example. so having been implemented in an actual city, ULTra has a leg up on other concept systems.
(i love public transportation btw.)
the photos in the article are pretty amazing too, sunshine in cardiff?
posted by elle at 9:06 PM on January 18, 2002

Bruno Latour wrote a book about the development and failure of a similar system by the french:

http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/LATARA.html

If used within city limits, 30 mph ain't so bad.
posted by mecran01 at 11:09 AM on January 19, 2002