Posted on Monday July 13th by Jebediah Reed | 98
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- The latest article to gush (rightfully) over Bogota’s Bus Rapid Transit network notes that such systems could offer a great strategy for fighting climate change, as the city has cut bus fuel use by 60 percent. Mexico City, Jakarta and other cash-strapped metropolises are trying to duplicate the “TransMilenio” formula. (NYT)
- Russia will build the world’s first floating nuclear plant, to power oil and mineral extraction in the Arctic as all that old-fashioned and outdated polar ice starts melting. The rig will be almost 500 feet long, throw off 70 megawatts of electricity, and cost $630 million. (Yale 360)
- The consensus forecast for climate change this century is “utter catastrophe.” Why can’t our political leaders manage to address the biggest policy issue in human history? Paul Krugman doesn’t know, but he wonders if we aren’t like the mythical frog, being slowly boiled alive. (NYT)
- House transportation honcho Jim Oberstar tells WNYC the stimulus should have been “$600 billion in infrastructure.” Still, he expects to announce soon that the existing bill has created more than 50,000 construction jobs. And Larry Summers and Rahm Emanuel are “goose eggs,” he says in amusing if slightly awkward jibe. (WNYC)
- Europe’s plan to get much of its energy from the Sahara continues to take shape. The scheme would cost about $500 billion and involve massive solar collectors in the desert and transmission lines across the Mediterranean. The CEO of Siemens says we have the technology to do it right now. (FT Energy Source)
- Community gardens are replacing abandoned houses in Flint, Mich., even as some residents worry about “forced relocations” and a mayoral candidate proclaims that bulldozing old houses is “surrender.” Advocates for “shrinkage” must make the case that smaller can sometimes be better. (NPR)
- Is the future of urban transportation a human powered monorail called “The Shweeb”? It’s highly aerodynamic, allowing users can travel easily at speeds up to 40 mph. The inventor wants to see it as a “standard” mode of transport within 15 years and swears that it’s safe. We, however, have lingering concerns that the track might bend. (Daily Planet) (Image)
July 13th, 2009 at 11:54 am
I once road on a aerial bike like that over a rainforest in Mexico. It was fun. Though it seems like this idea would be far cheaper if you just ran a cable or two.
July 13th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Well, it certainly won’t be loud.
July 13th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
It is sad how accepting we are of “utter catastrophe” being listed as just another item… along with tongue-in-cheek “solutions.” Global warming is not “future”, people are dying now. It is time to stop subsidizing the auto and sprawl.
July 13th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Is there a chance the tracks could bend?
Not on your life my Hindu friend.
Monorail!
Monorail!
July 14th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Really? The world’s first floating nuclear power plant?
WOOOOO HOOOOO. All those days melting rock in the Navy really was just a bad dream.
…………….
July 15th, 2009 at 2:31 am
That “human powered monorail” looks like another one of those “looks cool on the cover of Popular Mechanics” concepts that has little chance of succeeding in the real world. First of all, it appears that only the young and limber could squeeze easily into the units (pods?). Second, maybe the pods can go 40 mph, but you have to stop somewhere–what do the stations look like? How far apart are they? I can see lots of issues with handicap access. I would presume the name “Shweeb” is derived from the “Schewebebahn” suspended monorail in Wuppertal, Germany.
(Note: I tried the link but it wouldn’t work on my computer)
July 15th, 2009 at 2:49 am
Given the world’s apparent inability to get its act together to prevent utter catastrophe, I conclude that it’s time to stop having children. You’re just cursing them to live in an era of mass starvation, so it’s insane. On the other hand, those of us over 30 may have a chance of dying of natural causes before humanity starves to death due to global warming.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Nathanael. Very funny, but honestly its a part of our discussion to not have children.
July 16th, 2009 at 10:04 am
[...] Carbon-Free July 16th, 2009 Goto comments Leave a comment all images via shweeb Finally: The Infrastructurist shows us the perfect mashup of a podcar with Velo-City: The Shweeb, a pedal-powered monorail that [...]
July 16th, 2009 at 10:13 am
[...] & Transportation, Commuting, transportation Jul 16 all images via shweeb Finally: The Infrastructurist shows us the perfect mashup of a podcar with Velo-City: The Shweeb, a pedal-powered monorail that [...]
July 16th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
[...] The Infrastructurist shows us the perfect mashup of a podcar with Velo-City: The Shweeb, a pedal-powered monorail that [...]
July 16th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
[...] The Infrastructurist shows us the perfect mashup of a podcar with Velo-City: The Shweeb, a pedal-powered monorail that [...]
July 16th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
[...] The Infrastructurist shows us the perfect mashup of a podcar with Velo-City: The Shweeb, a pedal-powered monorail that [...]
July 25th, 2009 at 12:01 am
[...] The Infrastructurist shows us the perfect mashup of a podcar with Velo-City: The Shweeb, a pedal-powered monorail that [...]
November 16th, 2009 at 4:24 am
Its actually an easy idea that if some men pull their heads out of their coffers maybe we/I could get the start up money so i can make a track for the shweeb type stuff what we need is some money given to me so I can make some working real life charity & tourism and some public transport systems to spur a new concept of going to work
November 16th, 2009 at 4:33 am
anyone who has money to use on tourism development in the canadian rockies area I’d be a key member of your team in this respect