In Tehran, Emergency Room Admissions Up 20% In Past 3 Days As Smog Chokes City, Region

[hatrack]

TEHRAN-- Tehran is choking. Gridlock on urban highways makes the city feel more like Los Angeles than the Middle East, while adding a toxic yellow halo of smog to otherwise perennially blue skies. Emergency hospital admissions have risen 20 percent in recent days due to respi-ratory problems, according to the Health Ministry, and the government all but closed the capital down on Wednesday and Thursday by declaring impromptu holi-days for public sector workers-a desperate attempt to clean the air.

EDIT

Meanwhile, more than 10 million people live in a space that has the"environmental capacity"for 3 million, said Mohammad-Hadj Heidarzadeh, a consultant to the municipality. The city, he said, has room for about 700,000 cars, compared with about 3 million vehicles that now choke its streets.

Ahmadinejad has suggested that instead of adapting the city to fit the population, pressure should be relieved by relocating as many as five million people. This would also help the capital cope with the conse-quences of a devastating earthquake, which seismologists say could strike at any time. Skeptics question Ahmadinejad's motives, noting that a smaller city popula-tion would diminish Qalibaf's power base and reduce the number of people who might one day be tempted to repeat the massive street protests that followed the 2009 presidential election.

The subway is just one of several impor-tant battlegrounds where Ahmadinejad has battled with rival power centers, including Parliament. Parliament, in theo-ry, has the power to impeach a president, a constitutional right that has never been exercised in the Islamic Republic's three-decade history.

EDIT

http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2872217

[aquart]

1. The people are in Tehran because the work and schools are in Tehran.

He has the power to relocate the schools. All he has to do is get the businesses on board. Yet that doesn't seem to be under discussion.

[Confusious]

2. Maybe they should just do away with the cars. nt

[Systematic Chaos]

3. But there in their cars, they feel safest of all.

They can lock all their doors.
It's the only way to live.

In cars.

[txlibdem]

4. :-)

Good song.

Totally disagree with the statement it makes...

[Systematic Chaos]

6. Oh I disagree with it but love it also.

On that note, Gary Numan wrote the song more about being locked in your car and safe from road rage than actually spending your entire life inside your car. :)

[txlibdem]

5. PRT is the only way to do that without a public revolt

Buses and trains can only get you so far. An emissions tax will push the poor and middle class out of their cars while the rich continue to pollute at will. It's at least something but I hate the idea of putting the cost of solving all problems on the backs of the poor. That's what Capitalism always seems to call for and I hate it.

PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) is many times more efficient than driving cars and trucks. A PRT taxi picks you up at your house and takes you directly to your destination with zero stops along the way (unless you request a detour to pick up your dry cleaning or get a coffee or some breakfast on your way in to work). PRT taxis are automated and require no driver, they run on a track that pushes the taxi along by linear induction motors -a technology that has had over 20 years of improvements to perfect the technology. The tracks can be elevated to avoid impacting pedestrian traffic, or at street level where it is appropriate, or even underground like a subway -but much cheaper because the vehicles are smaller therefore digging the tunnels would cost only a fraction of what a subway line would cost.

Masdar City in Abu Dhabi is putting in an automated taxi system called Vectra but that is only a half solution to the problem. It would work perfectly in the Middle East but could not be used in Minnesota because the vehicles are basically an automated electric car that has rubber tires and steering just like the cars on the road today so a coating of ice would render all of them immobile or cause accidents. The PRT system I prefer is the one proposed by Taxi 2000 in the US and in Upsala, Switzerland, by Vectus. Both are infinitely better than the status quo (traffic jams, auto accidents kill 40,000 Americans each year, weather makes commuting a exercise in frustration and sometimes terror, etc).
http://www.taxi2000.com/
--- here's their promo video, very well done: http://www.taxi2000.com/images/movies/echo.swf
http://www.vectus.se/
http://www.vectus.se/prt/overview.php

[Confusious]

7. Saw taxi2000 about 5 years ago

That's my dream. What every city should have.

[txlibdem]

9. I'm jealous. I've only seen it on Youtube...

I definitely agree that every city should have a Taxi2000-type PRT, at least within a certain distance of downtown.

I wrote a letter to Bill Gates regarding the city of Winona, MN's plans to build a modest PRT test track and study center. I asked Mr. Gates to fund their project but require that the city of Winona build out a complete system covering every block. I haven't heard back but that is expected.

I've had a bit to say about PRT over the past few months
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/txlibdem/9


Safe operation in winter: check out and compare the videos, then ask yourself why in the hell we're still driving cars...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=261273&mesg_id=261907

Here is the text of the letter I wrote to Mr. Gates (warning, long winded SOB):

In recent years many Americans have become concerned that our dependence on foreign oil threatens our future as a sovereign nation on several fronts, economic, national security, jobs, health, and the environment. As an investor in the Traveling Wave Power unit I believe you are well aware of the problems posed by our reliance on oil and other fossil fuels so I feel confident I can leave it at that and that you fully understand what is at stake for you, your children and grandchildren (and ours as well).

I agree with you that nuclear power is absolutely necessary as one part of our energy future. The "set it and forget it" aspect of your Traveling Wave Reactor power unit is so attractive in my mind as a good way to reap the benefits of safe, reliable nuclear power without needing to import or grow expertise locally so it will be important for its target market. I am also a fan of renewable energy but I am somehow able to see that a singular focus on any one (or only solar and wind) will end the day with the same dominance by the coal industry that we are faced with today.

My plea today is for the two of you or for your foundation to take a look at Personal Rapid Transit (PRT), also known as Personal Automated Transit (PAT) as a potential solution to our oil dependence, pollution problems, and the $$$Billions lost each year due to traffic congestion and traffic accidents that result in far too much property loss and over 40,000 lost lives each year. PRT also expands access to public transportation, which is accessible/useful to only 3% to 5% of the population unless you live in New York City.

Public transportation is going to become more important as more of the middle class continues to fall into the ranks of the poor. But even if that prediction is wrong it would benefit us all if everyone got out of their cars. The main problems facing public transportation today are threefold: budgetary, limited coverage area, and being subject to the same traffic issues faced by cars -- traffic, accidents, time lost. Buses and trains are unprofitable and rely on federal dollars to stay in operation. Our nation needs to come up with a new and better concept of public transportation if we are to make any impact on the public's access and take more vehicles off the road. That better concept is Personal Rapid Transit. But what is PRT?

The notable characteristic of a PRT system is that the vehicles used (called PODS) are small, able to carry between 2 and 4 adults. Thus the term "personal." You do not share a large vehicle with many others as in a bus or train/light rail. In fact, you need not share the vehicle with anyone if you prefer not to. The fair paid is to move the pod from point A to point B, it does not matter if you pay all of the fair or share it with family members or friends (or fellow commuters, etc). The vehicles are wheelchair accessible and friendly to bike riders, strollers, etc. This sets PRT apart from bus service: wheelchairs are accommodated but bikes are generally not in the plan. You are safe inside the vehicle as well since you only ride with those you wish to ride with and there are emergency contact buttons on all 4 walls in the case of an emergency or health issue.

Another characteristic of PRT is that the pod takes you from your starting point to your destination without stopping along the way. It does not stop to pick up or drop off other passengers along the way. Stations are offline and do not impede the movement of pods that are continuing to other destinations. PRT provides you a quiet, private trip allowing you to relax or enjoy the media of your choice without bother or bothering others. Because there are no intermediate stops you reach your destination faster even though the pods have a lower top speed than the bus or train. Thus it is "rapid" in truth as opposed to today's current offerings. And if you wish to do some work on the way, you are able to do so with no prying eyes or interruptions.

The most important aspect of PRT is that the pods are fully automated. There are no drivers. The pod is controlled by computer at all times. This automation allows the pods to achieve maximum efficiency and maximum speed while allowing multiple vehicles to enter, exit, or merge seamlessly without colliding with the other vehicles. This is the only way such a system could be possible. Humans are incapable of this level of precision and safety. Each step in the process is automated; from processing the payment for your fair and selecting a destination to the door opening at the end point.

The pods are powered by electricity alone so there are no tailpipe emissions and they are light weight so they have minimum power requirements. The PRT system consists of a track along which the pods run which is similar to train tracks but much lighter weight and only 3 or 4 feet wide. Based on existing PRT designs, the pods themselves are between 4' and 6' wide depending on the system and their light weight means that the track does not have to be as strong. This leads to far lower costs per mile than light rail. The pods are propelled by linear induction motors built into the track so they need no motors or fuel storage, just a magnet.

The track can be elevated, at ground level, or below ground as needs dictate. The elevated track requires support poles sunk in a solid foundation similar to light poles along the freeways but even with this extra cost it is far cheaper than bus or light rail. One such elevated system has been proposed for the Microsoft campus in Redmond so perhaps you are aware of one of the versions of PRT. I will include a link to it at the end of this email just in case.

The trouble with the campus model in that proposal is similar to the situation with public transportation today: access is limited. So while I generally approve of the idea of a PRT system at your Redmond location and would applaud loudly should one be built there I am asking for you to take a broader, long term approach to the vision. PRT will not solve our ongoing crises with such a narrow focus as this. We must expand our horizons, extend our minds around the problem on the scale necessary to actually have an impact. This is where I believe that you are needed. You alone have the resources to make a difference.

My plea to you both is to review the subject of PRT to expand your understanding and then look into guiding and funding the PRT project in Winona, MN, a city of about 50,000 with about 25,000 in the urban center. As referenced in this article:
"Feds nix PRT funding proposal"

http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_ec52fbfa-b4b6-11df-b0d8-001cc4c002e0.html

Here is an excerpt from the article:
"Winona's request for nearly $25 million in federal funding to test a futuristic transit technology has been denied, city leaders confirmed Monday.

"The city submitted the funding application in January to build a test lab for Personal Rapid Transit, which uses small, pod-like vehicles on guideways to shuttle passengers to their destinations. The money would have created the Winona Personal Rapid Transit Lab and Partnership Center, featuring a 0.9-mile elevated guideway. The grant would have also paid to build a testing laboratory on the main campus of Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical in Winona and fund it for four years.

"Though this application did not garner funds for the project, city leaders say they are pursuing other funding options and remain committed to the concept."

As stated in the article the city mayor is committed to the project and is seeking private funding. I ask you to review their proposal and grant their request for $25 million if you feel it has merit. If their plans are found lacking or unworkable I ask you to either work with them to improve/rewrite or select another area for the investment (Austin, TX has an active community of PRT proponents... no pressure).

The potential of PRT will, however, not be reached with a test track that runs less than one mile. I implore you to select an area for a vehicle-free zone where the true potential of PRT can be realized and do not stop at a tiny test track. One such track already exists, Vectus has a test track which is (IIRC) in Upsala, Sweden so I do not see the logic of merely duplicating a tiny test track. In order to prove any benefit to using PRT you have to go bigger. The potential of the Vectus system will be apparent in the links at the end of this email so I won't repeat that here. I propose that you expand upon what has already been done, not merely duplicate or shadow it.

One suggestion would be to build a fully functioning PRT system based on either the SkyWeb Express (aka Taxi 2000) or the Vectus system with a modification that I will explain in the following paragraphs. How better to prove a concept than to actually build it. After all, the wright brothers could not prove that flight was possible simply by building a model. They had to actually do it, they had to build a full-sized airplane and actually fly it before the airline industry could be made possible.

I propose a system that would consist of both an elevated grid of high speed PRT track superimposed on the city, spaced 2 miles apart, connecting all parts of the city and dividing it into sub-sections. Within each sub-section, which I will call a neighborhood, would be a lower speed grid at ground level that follows the existing roadways, much like a trolley except that there are no overhead power lines; the same linear induction motors will be embedded in the street so that the pods have the same source of motive power. As a consequence, no destination within a neighborhood will be more than 1 mile from a PRT connecting point.

The system could best be described by following a fictional rider from start to finish, if you will indulge me.

One Mr. Fred Jones awakes to his alarm clock. It is Monday and he has to be at work in an hour. He is new to the area and has not yet contracted with PART (the PRT Area Rapid Transit company). Had he already done so the computers at PART would already know his schedule and would have pre-positioned a pod in a storage lot near him in advance to ensure acceptable service delivery and decrease wait times and traffic across the system. The pod would be scheduled to arrive at his preferred time and on his schedule. Fred knows he has to make a manual service request and being that it is a weekday he has to do so early enough that a pod can arrive at his house in time. He understands this process is similar to calling a taxi; one does not rationally expect to be able to call a taxi 5 minutes before one has to leave so it is not an inconvenience. He walks to his computer and makes the pickup request at the PART website, selecting to pay by credit card when the pod arrives. Fred could instead have used the app on his windows mobile or other smart phone (yes, there's an app for that :-) or called the toll free number where an ACD (automated phone system) would provide the service to schedule a pickup. Fred then eats his breakfast and finishes getting ready. He still has a few minutes so he checks out the news at msn.com while he waits. Suddenly, a text message beeps his smart phone. This is his preferred notification method; he could choose an automated phone call, a text or an email. The text notifies him that his pod is expected to arrive at his house in 7 minutes. He is comforted that he knows it will arrive with plenty of time to spare: PART had dispatched the pod from one of the many regional staging lots around the city to accommodate last-minute travel requests. Fred had chosen 7 minutes as his preferred notification time when he scheduled the pickup, he could have selected either no notification or any other number of minutes greater than 2. The estimated arrival time is highly accurate because the PART computer system has calculated it based on current traffic patterns as well as other scheduled pickups between that staging lot and his home.

In a few minutes Fred walks out to the curb in front of his house to await the pod. His job requires that he wear a suit so Fred, like most of his neighbors, has built a covered walkway from his front door to the curb so he is not affected by the weather. One of his neighbors has paid PART to install the track into his driveway so he does not even have to walk to the curb; this is an extra cost paid by the homeowner and Fred has opted not to do that. Besides, he would not get to greet his neighbors who also ride the PRT. That is one of the benefits of the PRT system: it has brought neighborhoods back to life, no longer are we all locked in our houses and cars. The neighborhood Fred lives in had voted to keep the roads available to cars so the PRT track is inlaid in the pavement on one side of the street, the other side is a one-way access for automobiles. Some neighborhoods have opted to remove their streets altogether, removing the asphalt and creating a park-like atmosphere where once was only dead pavement. Perhaps Fred can spare the time to get on his neighborhood steering committee to make that change in his area as well... Two of his neighbors' pods have now arrived and the door opens for them to enter. Susan has an account with PART and simply inserts her smart card into the reader on the dashboard of the pod but Dan needs to pay by credit card so Susan's pod has closed its door and departed several seconds before Dan's starts moving. They wave as they pass by. Now Fred's pod arrives on time as usual and the door opens to allow access. The edge of the pod is at the same level as the sidewalk so if Fred had needed handicap access or wanted to bring his bicycle it would not have been an issue.

Fred enters his pod and notices a slight breeze so he chooses to close the door before taking care of payment. The pod has weight sensors and won't move if he or any of his belongings are in the pod but no payment has been authorized so the door closes when he pushes the correct button. He slides his credit card into the reader and the pod begins moving. Its speed is limited to around 20 mph while inside a neighborhood area and as the pod nears the high speed PRT entrance ramp it extends its guide wheels into place to perform the "switching" off of the straight through track and onto the ramp. The track is therefore less complex than a train or light rail track which has to do the switching. The track is well engineered and manufactured in a factory elsewhere in Fred's state so the transition onto the ramp is done smoothly and seamlessly. The pod now begins to pick up speed to match the PRT "traffic" on the high speed main line so it can merge seamlessly. One of the vehicles already on the track had to slightly decrease its speed to provide an opening for Fred's pod but it was barely noticeable. The pods all travel at 40 mph on the PRT grid and Fred is comfortable while the pod does all the "driving." The pod has heater and air conditioning controls that he can change to his liking during the trip. Once he creates his account with PART he can set a temperature preference as well as available entertainment options.

He decides to order a pay-per-view movie even though his commute will only take 27 minutes, PART has a contract with the local cable providers so he can finish watching it later that night as the rental is for a 24-hour period. Fred could have chosen ad-supported media options as well, such as the local affiliate station or one of the online media providers like Hulu. Or, since the pod serves as a wifi hub he could surf the 'net and even connect to the VPN at his work if he were that high up in his company. But Fred is a blue collar man and darn proud of it. On its way to his destination, the pod has had to make a couple of track changes to take the most efficient route and balance traffic on the PRT grid. Each of these are as seamless as getting on the ramp but are done at full speed so those parts of the track are better reinforced to handle the stress and other forces.

Fred's neighbor Dan had told him a story about the early days of the PART system, during the first real big winter storm. The PRT system performed flawlessly in the ice and snow because the vehicles are propelled along by magnetic forces. The pod is not capable of slipping or sliding and each is equipped with a mini-plow in front of the wheels and the magnetic pickup to remove any accumulation of snow before it can cause any problem. The only inconvenience was a stuck car that had to be moved out of the way before Dan's pod could arrive at his door. That was the good news for Dan; he enjoyed a safe and comfortable commute in a heated pod listening to his favorite music selections and arrived at work fully de-stressed and ready to take on the day. Unfortunately, many of his coworkers were not so lucky. The icy conditions made for a stressful and dangerous commute for the vehicle drivers out on the streets. There were a record number of accidents along the streets and the interstate. A dense fog had settled in the low lying areas which caused a multi-vehicle pileup, and sadly there were lives lost in that horrific crash. This scene is played out every winter in parts of the USA and it is a tragic and needless waste of lives and property. Dan decided that day to sell his car and has used the PRT ever since for all his transportation needs.

The next year Dan had to replace his refrigerator (it was due anyway and the newer models use so much less energy). He could have ordered it online and had it delivered but Dan is still an old-fashioned guy at heart so he wanted to go to the store and personally choose the replacement. He went to the mall but didn't find any he liked. Fortunately, Dan had selected the optional "extra stop" option on his PRT fare this morning and only had to pay an extra dollar but got to choose two stops, two pick ups with the same fare. It is cheaper to do it that way than to pay two separate fares. It worked out well for Dan because he had taken his time at the mall and the PART system only allows 2 hours for a multi-segment trip (and no, you can't cheat the system and make the second segment be your home; that would be treated as a return trip and a full fare even if it took less than two hours). It didn't matter to Dan either way, however, because his costs for using the PRT are much less than owning and driving a car. At the end of the year he would save a couple of thousand dollars. So, when he really thought about it his new 'fridge was basically free. And he found the perfect model at the second store so he was done for the day. He took the PRT home and started cooking his lunch, which was easy because he'd removed all food from his old fridge and had it on the counter so he found ingredients he'd forgotten he even had. His computer began to play his "new email received" media clip so he put lunch aside and read the email notification from PART that said his pod will arrive with "new fridge" in 5 minutes (he had chosen the phrase at the store and 5 minutes was his pre-selected notify time).

Dan moved the old fridge out of the kitchen and positioned it near but not blocking access to the front door. As usual the pod arrived at the exact time predicted and the doors opened. This pod looked different than a passenger pod, however, it was basically a square box with no seats or controls inside. When the doors were fully opened a battery powered delivery 'bot (basically a square platform with straps attached and soft rubber wheels) left the pod, beeping and softly chirping to signal its existence to the sight-impaired. The bot had sensors to help it detect the sidewalk but it also had a corded controller for manual driving to the front door in case the sensors get confused. By the time Dan was out the front door the delivery bot was already halfway up the walk. His front door has a step so he knows that he will need to get an appliance dolly from his garage. The newer homes on the other side of town do not even have garages but his was built decades before PRT so it's a big storage and junk room now. The bot stopped a foot away from Dan and patiently waited. Dan got the appliance dolly and put the new fridge in the kitchen and then put his old fridge on the bot for removal and recycling (a courtesy service of the store). If his local electric utility pays for recycling old appliances he will be credited on his bill at a later date. Once he placed the straps on the old fridge he pushed the "Ok" button and the bot auto-tightened the straps for safety before moving back to the pod which still waited at the curb. Had another vehicle needed to get by, the freight pod would have circled the block and come back around for the pickup. The bot guided itself with deliberate precision back inside the freight pod, whereupon the doors closed and the pod went on its way. Had it been "rush hour" the PART computer would have scheduled the delivery for another time as deliveries are generally scheduled during non-peak times, the exception being when usage is expected to be low.

The mailman no longer needs to service Dan and Fred's area as well. A mailbot which has an arm to open the old-style mailboxes and pick up outgoing mail then deliver any new mail now performs that service. The only addition to his mailbox is an rfid chip which is activated when the mail flag is lifted so that Dan's computer can react to it and schedule a mail pickup (presuming no mail delivery was pending on his street that day). In the new parts of the city the mailboxes are designed to open by radio control and drive themselves to the door where an automatic doggy-door opens to admit the mailbox. The upgrade will eventually reach all parts of the city. On days when there is no mail to be delivered or picked up no mail vehicle enters the neighborhood and in the unusual event that no mail is to be picked up or delivered on that entire route then no mail pod is sent. The postal service in the city saves a significant amount of money by taking advantage of off-peak rates and as-needed delivery or pickup scheduling. It does not have to pay for the purchase of vehicles or their fuel and maintenance expense. The retail establishments in the city also save for the same reasons. When a store needs additional stock or supplies, that delivery is scheduled at night when off-peak rates are cheaper. Some stores need only a single freight pod while others need a dozen or more. They each take their turn maneuvering into place for offloading and when each is emptied by the store employees the "Ok" button tells the freight pod it is free to go on its way, a weight sensor first verifies that the pod is truly empty of course to prevent human error.

When Fred's pod neared his work the pod switched itself off the main line onto a separate track with a PART station. This allows a pod to slow to a stop and offload passengers without hindering the smooth flow of pod traffic. Pods always travel at full speed along the main grid lines, stations are offline on a separate track. At the station the pod entered a covered and conditioned annex that was added to the facade of the factory where Fred works. It's design and materials match the building so it looks like the PRT station was built right into the building itself. The PART company only provides a wheelchair accessible station with a covered area as part of the service but Fred's company saw the additional construction as a perk for its employees; they knew that happier employees are more productive and the company CEO realized early on the great benefit that the PART system would be to his company, especially in the winter time. Sometimes he worried about employees that drive themselves to work so he decided to provide a reduced PART fare voucher for each employee. The HR department likes the idea also because PART riders are, on average, more punctual than employees who drive their own vehicles to work.

When the PART company first proposed this system to the citizens of our city, many were skeptical of its success and the costs involved. After all, there were no other PRT systems of this type built in the USA or anywhere worldwide, except the test tracks that were mere proof of concept, too small and with too few vehicles to show the promise of PRT. Some suggested a system like the Ultra-PRT system at London's Heathrow Airport which uses vehicles that are in essence nothing more than computer controlled battery powered electric cars. Their rubber tires ride on a narrow road and alternating magnets embedded in the road tell the car it's location. This would never work in much of the USA because of the extremes of weather and the limited number of pods and stations it would be capable of, not to mention the speed is far too limited. That is why our city leaders chose to work with the PART company and install their PRT design that uses a safe and reliable track system and LIM (Linear Induction Motors) for traction. That is the only way to achieve the level of efficiency and safety that is required for PRT to really pay off. The system currently being installed at Masdar City in the UAE has the same weather limitations as the one at Heathrow because it uses basically the same type of vehicles. Masdar City will never face an ice and snow problem so such a system would serve them well but our leaders understand that its limitations outweigh the benefits.

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Gates for reading this narrative. I hope it will convince you of the potential that PRT has to be truly transformative and to have the biggest impact on our foreign oil dependence of any technology. Here are some links that will expand and/or explain why I am sold on PRT as the technology that will save our nation.

Safety of operation in winter:
Compare this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J-S_YYuNBU&feature=related

To our current situation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM2gLjfE_3Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a293u2g27CE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6TkJd5ik5s - 40 car pileup starts at about the 1 min. mark
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC2y3b86AOA - it's not just snow but also fog. This was a huge pile-up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkq6omn741A - a little rain caused this "SUV Hydroplane Wreck Caught on Tape Part 1"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRtZtSBFj9s&NR=1 - he ended up overturned in a ditch, "Part 2"

But we all know that even in perfect weather some drivers put the rest of us in danger. I'd like to take all drivers off the road and build a PRT network that picks you up at your door and drops you off at our destination for less than the cost of owning a car.

http://faculty.washington.edu/jbs/itrans/prtquick.htm
http://www.acprt.org/index.cfm
http://www.vectusprt.com/index.php - Vectus
http://www.taxi2000.com - Skyweb Express

More PRT vids of interest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5W3OSZu9oA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiUDLYvNNbo - Skyweb Express is a US company
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIOA6ExOq6c - The proposal for Microsoft Campus

For comparison, here is the Ultra-PRT type system which shows its weakness in winter travel (imagine each of these videos with the road surface covered in ice or snow):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PyUQuWmt2M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyghLnbp20U&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDzq-lqe8_c&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRCHPnoCTRs&feature=related

Other systems use an overhead track and a hanging pod vehicle. This subjects the vehicle to centrifugal forces during a turn and limits the speed and tightness of allowable turns. Another problem is that the roof of the vehicle must be structurally strong enough to carry the weight of the vehicle and passengers/cargo. Vectus and Skyweb Express vehicles have none of these problems.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unuXl2gtbzs&feature=related - jpods
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njdfz75P65U&feature=related - skytran, claims to be 1/19th the cost of light rail

[Confusious]

11. What I ment was that I heard about it 5 years ago or so

And when I work on my car, or just go around town, I think about it. Since all most of us do is go to work and back home, it would be great. You can even fit your bike in it.

Shit just think, have that, some high speed rail, you could take the taxi2000 to the highspeed rail, take the taxi2000 again, go to another town, have a few drinks, get back on and go home (If you're really bored)

After you've done some car work, spent money on it, you begin to see VERY CLEARLY how much money and time we waste on cars.

[txlibdem]

12. That is so true about where people ACTUALLY go versus where they SAY the need to go

People know that current methods of public transportation take away freedoms, cause time delays, force upon you many inconveniences. Is there any wonder why only 5% of people in cities take public transportation? (again, unless you're in NYC where the percentage is much higher). I used to take public transportation to work and it was a grueling, exhausting, exasperating, annoying, inconvenient experience.

PRT gives you MORE convenience than driving a car (you don't have to do the driving, it's like having your own chauffeur 24/7).
PRT gives you MORE safety than driving --review the section in my post about safety, 43,000 Americans die in auto crashes each year!
PRT gives you MORE security --the PRT taxi takes you INSIDE the mall, you are not vulnerable to thieves as you walk to/from your car
. . . and the PRT taxi picks you up from your home so there is no loss of convenience there.
PRT saves you money --the ticket price would be calculated to be much less than owning and operating expenses for a car.

Review my post above for the videos about safety in winter. It really contrasts well the safety aspect for those who get ice and snow in the winter.

[hunter]

8. It's very pretty and the raised tracks have a low environmental impact...

... compared to roads.

Wouldn't it be great if we could restore lost wetlands and other environmentally diverse areas by ripping up roads and replacing them with elevated PRT tracks?

[txlibdem]

10. That would be great, or to make our neighborhoods into veritable parklands

Read my reply to the post above yours...

There are so many downsides to our current system of roads, not the least of which are the 43,000 lives lost on US roads and highways each year due to driver failure or weather.