THE CASE FOR PERSONAL RAPID TRANSIT

THIS PAPER CONSIDERS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR, AND POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF, PERSONAL TRANSIT SYSTEMS THAT COMBINE SOME OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AUTOMOBILE AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. THESE SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR AN INDIVIDUAL OR A GROUP IN AN EXCLUSIVE VEHICLE, ROUTED DIRECTLY FROM THE ORIGIN TO DESTINATION BY AUTOMATIC CONTROLS. THIS PAPER DESCRIBES THE ADVANTAGES AND APPLICATION OF SUCH SYSTEMS. IT INCLUDES A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THE RELATIVE AREAS OF APPLICATION OF SUCH SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS MORE CONVENTIONAL TRANSIT SYSTEMS, AND A DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE TECHNICAL APPROACHES TO SUCH SYSTEMS. /AUTHOR/