Are new road systems the key to less fuel dependance?

Question

Ok, some of you may think I'm crazy on this, but the issues we're facing with gas supply and the environment are really getting people to come up with new concepts. One that I thought of was, what if our roads are rebuilt in a way that will make cars run without gas (or very little gas)?

One examples like some type of magnetic tracks or road surface... the type used by trains, trolleys and even bumper cars, that let cars glide by electricity. I think something was tested in California like this. Maybe it could lead to better safety with magnetic bumpers built in to prevent crashes?

And another (probably very far fetched) idea is for canals in place of roads. This would harness one of nature's truest powers, water. Currents can push boats along with no effort on the ship, so amphibius cars can be pushed by giant jets (Think of the log ride at an amusement park.)....or designed--like aquaducts--to flow a certain way.

Do these sound too costly & complicated? Or worth thought?

Answer 1

There is something like this at West Virginia University.  It doesn't work when it snows.  It is called the PRT .  It was not operated by the riders.  It holds several people.

http://admissions.wvu.edu/undergraduate/...

It has been there for 30 years.  I think what you have in mind would be great if they never broke down.  We grew to hate the PRT.

It would be very expensive to build a superhighway with these things.  Maintenance would be a terror.

Answer 2

Unless the system was on demand it and very reliable it would fail. I had similar thoughts where you would have an electric train to take you from city to city. You’d drive your car on a train punch in the city you wished to go to and it took you to that city. You then started your car drove off and the train waited for the next car. You would also have seating inside the train for people who didn’t have a car to ride in.

Canals freeze in the winter, and a properly built canal have very little if any current. When you look at canals that were build in the past they tended to keep the water as still and level as possible. If you have a current that means you’re moving water and if you’re moving water you need a source of water that can fill the canal and not dry up. Way too many problems.

To  She It I do

Mass transit only works in cities; as soon as you leave the cities it doesn’t pay energy wise or cost wise to keep a mass running for only few people. Or do you really plan on running mass transit for 500 or less people going to 10 different cities at different times? I don’t know about you but waiting four or five hours for a ride isn’t something I’m willing to do. Mass transit work when the buses, trams, or whatever run frequently, when I lived in Seattle the bus I rode came by every 15 minutes during the slow times and every 5 during rush hour, are you willing to pay for a bus leaving every 15 minutes for those 500 people? I don’t think so, it would be a waste of time, money, and energy.

Answer 3

Nope

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New roads only put the traffic in a different location

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New source of transportation has to be put into play to make any difference to the positive in saving any thing

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Mass transit is the answer to all the problems

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