PRT Definition - Open letter to Martin Lowson + ATRA Current & Past Board members

[Anupam Vibhuti]

Dear Martin,

We have interacted with each other personally and I have to confess, I continue to have huge regards for you personally and your efforts to take the alternative mobility industry forward in your own way.

I am writing this mail to you to earnestly request you to help set the records straight regarding the current motivated efforts (so far unaccountable) to confuse the global audience regarding the definition of PRT. You are aware from my previous mail to you that the latest newsletter of the Podcar City Conference carries an ATRA branded definition of PRT as a 4 seat vehicle system. You are well aware that PRT has never been defined by the advanced transit industry in such a manner ever and does not enhance the cause of the advanced transit industry in any way by restricting the public imagination in the manner so conceived.

Christer Lindstrom, who is presenting the latest podcar conference at Stockholm tells me that the article which 'redefined' PRT characteristics was originally drafted by Steve Raney, who to my knowledge works & represents your interests in the US - therefore this mail addressed to you directly. Christer has 'assumed' that the article has been officially endorsed by ATRA, when it is apparent that it has never been. This is perhaps a shortsighted, illegal and unethical act on the part of Steve to wrongly portray the family of 4 seat systems as the only PRT candidates perhaps to establish some business advantages for Ultra, Vectus & 2getthere in the near future with many city officials - as non-discerning audiences - by way of a deceptive ATRA endorsement, when none of this was required in the first place.

As an esteemed board member & Vice President of ATRA and one of the most respected proponents of alternative mobility product industry, it is your personal & conscientious responsibility to see that this anomaly is corrected at the earliest and a formal request made to IST (Christer Lindstrom) from ATRA to amend the article so that 'other' PRT vendors are not overshadowed in any way and the ATRA logo endorsement of the article is removed from all communication brochures / newsletter / website if the revised definition does not find the required endorsement from the ATRA board.

Look forward to positive steps from your end in all required fairness, this being a plea from a 3rd generation PRT proponent & enthusiast. 

On the related note, as a way forward for the industry, it may be prudent for ATRA to indeed define supply & performance characteristics of 2 seat, 3 seat, 4 seat or other variant PRT systems in a one-one, one-many, many-one or many-many OD combinations for a transparent appreciation of global city / transport officials in the industry's interest and the 'best fit value for money' procurement in cities across the world.

Best Regards, Anupam

PS I do not have emails of other ATRA members as listed on the ATRA website, therefore this mail may be forwarded to them by the recipients.

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Anupam Vibhuti [+91 9810070013]M
Architect & Urban Transport Planner @ Worxpace CPL  [www.worxpace.net]
D 113 East of Kailash New Delhi 110065 India Tel: +91 11 41624401,2,3 Fax: +91 11 41620040 Alt MailID: vib...@worxpace.net