Feather Rail, for sustainable urban transport

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Jerry Schneider

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Nov 7, 2011, 7:36:11 PM11/7/11
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Concept paper only, at this point - more coming in a few weeks.
http://faculty.washington.edu/jbs/itrans/featherrail.pdf

Jay Andress

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Nov 7, 2011, 8:40:45 PM11/7/11
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I actually had a patent on something very similar. The only difference was that I had a small side rail that a side bar of the bike connected to. It was a pretty cool idea...but I never saw much potential for $$$$ and dropped it.  The amazing part about my invention was that I could balance the thin 1" wide tires at 100  psi on top of a regular railroad track. I actually made the product and it worked pretty well...although I was always afraid of falling at a high speed...bouncing along railroad ties never seemed like a good idea :-)

On Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 7:36 PM, Jerry Schneider <j...@peak.org> wrote:
Concept paper only, at this point - more coming in a few weeks.
http://faculty.washington.edu/jbs/itrans/featherrail.pdf



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Dave Petrie

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Nov 8, 2011, 2:41:36 AM11/8/11
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Brian Chow (Featherail) makes his first and fatal mistake on page 2 Purpose- just like the PRT innovators- when he says a new mode of transportation to replace the auto is required.

 


From: transport-...@googlegroups.com [mailto:transport-...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jay Andress
Sent: Monday, November 07, 2011 5:41 PM
To: transport-...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [t-i] Feather Rail, for sustainable urban transport

 

I actually had a patent on something very similar. The only difference was that I had a small side rail that a side bar of the bike connected to. It was a pretty cool idea...but I never saw much potential for $$$$ and dropped it.  The amazing part about my invention was that I could balance the thin 1" wide tires at 100  psi on top of a regular railroad track. I actually made the product and it worked pretty well...although I was always afraid of falling at a high speed...bouncing along railroad ties never seemed like a good idea :-)

On Mon, Nov 7, 2011 at 7:36 PM, Jerry Schneider <j...@peak.org> wrote:

Concept paper only, at this point - more coming in a few weeks.
http://faculty.washington.edu/jbs/itrans/featherrail.pdf




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Netanel

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Nov 8, 2011, 1:31:47 AM11/8/11
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I am eager to see how you implement junctions for this concept.
Netanel

WALTER BREWER

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Nov 8, 2011, 9:40:45 AM11/8/11
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At least it is using rails for personal transportation.

I suppos merging "on-ramps" couls be built; sidings used fro passing the
senior swith Granny Gears.

The outrigger might solve the biking in snow country problem. Though not
sure if one is enough.

Walt Brewer

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Dennis Manning

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Nov 8, 2011, 10:59:29 AM11/8/11
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Dave:
 
It's a mistake to think all PRT innovators subscribe to  PRT replacing cars. First there are those that subscribe to DM and second those who see PRT at least for many years as an assist or possible replacement for mass transit.
 
Dennis

Roy Reynolds

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Nov 8, 2011, 11:40:13 AM11/8/11
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Correct.  A more appropriate goal, or goals, would be to mitigate the need for very costly resources to PARK vehicles (how many spaces are calculated for every car in the US?) and traffic congestion.  Both are also readily quantifiable.
 

Roy Reynolds
PRT Strategies
Fountain Valley, CA 92708




From: Dennis Manning <john.m...@comcast.net>
To: transport-...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 8, 2011 7:59 AM

Dave Petrie

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Nov 8, 2011, 12:08:56 PM11/8/11
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Yes, I understand. It’s the area-wide app- like Greater LA- that won’t fly.

 

I am recommending an 8.2 mile Downtown Circulator (with inner spurs, not a pure circulator) for Seattle, as an adjunct of the Viaduct Replacement (employing 2.2-mile bored tunnel) with Waterfront Park.

 


Pictures.library-ms

Dennis Manning

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Nov 8, 2011, 12:30:37 PM11/8/11
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Obviously an area wide system in LA isn't in the cards today. Tomorrow??? Hmmm.
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