Okay , what's wrong with PRT ? (Personal Rapid Transit)
If you've read the literature like I have, it quickly becomes
obvious why PRT is not the solution to car-choked streets. I can think
of dozens of reasons, but here's a few to start with and maybe you can
come up with some of your own.
PRT runs on the outside of buildings and punches large holes into
their second floors. I don't think this idea will meet the approval of
groups devoted to the aesthetic appreciation of and historic
preservation of landmark buildings.
PRT allows anyone to climb aboard, drunks, prostitutes, teenagers,
drug dealers and do what they want in the privacy of the PRT
vehicle...leaving behind vomit, used needles, condoms, grafitti,
odors....hard to police thousands of vehicles whizzing around on
monorails.
A terrorist could plant a bomb in a PRT vehicle and send it like
guided missile to its destination...PRT is supposed to go right into
buildings.
All those ugly pylons covered with graffiti, dirt, dropping chunks
of dirty ice on pedestrians below.
Is there supposed to be an elevator for the disabled at every stop.
That could get expensive AND ugly.
We would be the first to try out a VERY complex technology.
What I find interesting is that PRT literature and supporters
frequently bash light rail as too expensive and ineficient....it's hard
to defend a rail system with a record against an unproved system with no
record...just a lot of promises....
PRT supporters sometimes say "Americans don't like to ride with
strange people" which is totally untrue ...Americans rave about trains
and trolleys when they vacation in Europe or Disney World.
The PRT people are careful not to mention trolleys which are an
inexpensive, popular, reliable way to move people. People LOVE
trolleys! Look at San Francisco, New Orleans and Europe, Disney
World....Lake Harriet....
Forget PRT...bring trolleys back to Minneapolis!
Speaking of rail. The Bush administration is planning to break up
Amtrak and sell off its assets (that's prime real estate like train
stations) Are we in danger of losing the Empire Builder. If we lose our
rail link how much more dependent will we be on Northwest?
What if we have an oil embargo and the airports are shut down again?
Ken Avidor
Kingfield
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