A mass transit system composed of hanging gondolas moving throughout the city sky? It may sound a bit unlikely, but it would be a surprisingly cheap solution when compared to other options, such as subways.
The idea for a network grid of mass transit gondolas, known as “The Wire,” comes from Michael McDaniel, a designer at Frog Design. The idea is being put forward as a solution to the congestion and transportation problems in Austin, TX.
Somewhat surprisingly, there are quite a few significant advantages to such a solution, as Autoblog Green notes: “gondolas would be cheaper than subways (by a long shot – subways can cost up to $400 million per mile and The Wire could be implemented for around $3 million a mile) and they can be used in tight, congested areas. A gondola system – easy (relatively) to install and expand – could also move up to 10,000 people an hour, which could replace 100 bus trips or 2,000 car rides.”
There are some problems that are worth noting, though — issues with wind and with how strange the solution seems to people, being the primary ones.
Here’s a full, nearly 15-minute presentation on the idea by Michael McDaniel:
Michael McDaniel: Rethinking Solutions For The City from Piers Fawkes on Vimeo.
What do you think of the idea — great one, or too out there?
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