Podcar offers public transportation with the privacy of a car

October 13, 2008 · Print This Article

A group of rapid transit enthusiasts in Ithaca, NY are politicking for a new kind of public transportation system that I’ve never even heard of before. Forget the bus, the subway, or the light rail, these guys want to take public transit to the next level: the podcar. These computerized, driver-less pods would give 2-10 passengers the comfort and autonomy of an automobile, while running on an electrical current produced by clean energy.

From what I can tell, these pods would travel on either

tracks or elevated rails, with the ability to take you continuous to your destination. I’m envisioning something similar to an amusement park ride, and who wouldn’t want to take a personalized roller coaster to work? Apparently, podcar systems aren’t a new view. Students at West Virginia University ride a limited podcar system to school everyday that was built in the mid 70’s. Other podcar systems are being planned for London’s Heathrow airport and by a dozen cities in Sweden. Fun.

[Source] Josh Loposer

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