Types of Public Transport in America

[myoarin]

How many types of public transportation can you think of, excluding
human and animal powered means?

I'm wondering if I happened to use them all during my recent trip.

Thanks, Myo

[David]

monorail
trolley
van
bus
double-decker bus
subway
train
taxi
segway
van
funicular
.
.
.
.
what else???

[myoarin]

A good start, but by "public transportation" I meant public systems
(train, trolley, etc.) and other services one can pay for - taxi,
whatever (but not a segway, even if one can rent one somewhere -
which looks fun).

I didn't take a funicular or monorail, but a couple of others, so I've
already lost my bet with myself.

[Roger Browne]

Do you count chairlifts and cabin lifts that take you up to
mountaintops?

And it's a pity you excluded animals: the mule train down into the
Grand Canyon might count.

Presumably there is a scheduled helicopter shuttle somewhere, and
plane should certainly be on the list. And passenger ferries, car
ferries, hovercraft, hydrofoils, paddle-steamers and other kinds of
floating transport?

Does "trolley" mean trolley-bus or tramcar? Either way, you need both
of these on the list.

Do you count people-movers? Apart from Disneyland, there are probably
a few at various airports. And for sure there will be tractor-hauled
public transport along a beach somewhere.

"Train" is already on David's list, but in my opinion "sleeper-train"
is unique enough to deserve a category of its own.

Regards,
Roger

[myoarin]

Planes, of course, and ferries. To keep myself from losing too big, I
will claim that includes almost all types of water vehicles, but to
be honest, I would have to accept that hydrofoils and hovercraft are
separate categories (used them, but decades ago). Maybe I should
expand my conditions to include any time, not just my recent trip,
which would let me ignore the distinction between trolley-bus and
tramcar, even include rubber-tire(tyre) subway trains, and people
movers, and sleeper-trains, etc. But then, I'll have to expand the
field from America to world. Done.

Ain't it nice when one can change the rules as one pleases.

That also goes for the types of public transport, of course, and I can
loosen up the exclusion of human/animal propulsion (but let's not
figure out all the animals that can draw cart or buggy)..
Chair and cabin lifts included now, but at least a couple more State-
side haven't been yet.

I reject tractor-hauled beach vehicles as a pure tourist attraction,
i.e. not public transport (even if there is such to Mount St.
Michel): free or a fixed or bargainable price from here to there .

Good work so far, aiming at a moving target.

Cheers, Myo

[Probo]

In America, Myo, in general or in the good ole U S of A in particular?

And d'ye mean nowadays or whenever?

Clearly, you are very much better at answering questions than asking
them.

Of course, you did qualify your question by personalising it but even
so ..

How about the 'Cotton Blossom'?

It was still plying its trade in 1982 to my knowledge, although Cap'n
Andy, Julie Laverne and Gaylord Ravenal were nowhere to be seen.

With your fine voice, I'm sure that you could have do justice to 'Ole
Man River'.

And what about the Zeppelins? Surely, you must have travelled in at
least one of those during your early visits to Germany and back?

Or mere Hot Air Balloons, like Phineas Fogg? Or micro-lights. Or
gliders.

But let's not forget the Space Shuttle which now takes fee-paying
passengers!

I suspect that you missed out there but fortunately, there's still
time.

In the meantime, it's great to see you back

Bryo

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[myoarin]

I said America to include that colony up north. Let's keep it to the
present. Paddle-wheelers, side and stern, I have done (but the stern
one was a tourist thing), but the side-wheeler was public
transportation - albeit not the fastest way to get from here to
there..

Balloons, micro-lights and gliders don't count (my rules - maybe
since I haven't been on them), ditto for the space shuttles.

And I do sing "Ole Man River" in the shower, which has great
accoustics.

Cheers, Myo