https://www.fastcompany.com/91166562/us-transit-exceptionalism
"The most spectacular way to cross the Bosphorus is by boat, but the most
impressive way is by subway. Istanbul’s Marmaray Line, completed in 2013, links
Asia and Europe by way of an eight-and-a-half-mile undersea tunnel. The ride is
so fast and so smooth, it feels like a hovercraft.
When my dad and I traveled to Istanbul last year, we were prepared to witness
the city’s beauty and stand in awe of its history. But what really blew us away
was the city’s transit system.
“It’s like a sci-fi movie,” my dad remarked as we rolled above the waters of
the Golden Horn on the M2, another relatively new transit line that crosses
another iconic body of water in Istanbul. (His take on robotaxis: “It’s like
The Invisible Man!”) Even Istanbul’s light rail lines are completely
different from their American counterparts. The T1 tram arrives every two or
three minutes, and enjoys seamless signal priority that keeps the train moving
at all times, except when it’s picking up passengers. The view, once again, is
awesome.
For Americans, state-of-the art transit systems like the one in Istanbul are
about as familiar as the transporter on
Star Trek. As the U.S. lavishes
billions on highway expansions and subsidizes tricked-out SUVs, other countries
are investing in transit systems that are setting new standards for speed,
convenience, and technology. Increasingly, transportation is looking like
another area of American exceptionalism."
Via
Reasons to be Cheerful:
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/what-were-reading-puerto-rico-clean-water-innovation/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
