PEOPLE MOVERS: PLANNING AND POTENTIALS

AN OVERVIEW OF PEOPLE MOVERS IS ACCOMPANIED BY CURSORY ANALYSES OF PLANNING GUIDELINES, MARKET POTENTIAL, AND MEANS OF INTEGRATING PEOPLE MOVERS INTO THE OVERALL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. GIVEN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PEDESTRIANS IN DOWNTOWN AREAS---PARTICULARLY THEIR RELUCTUANCE TO WALK MORE THAN 1000-1500 FEET AND THE TENDENCY FOR THE HIGHEST VOLUMES TO CONCENTRATE IN A FEW BLOCKS OF THE DOWNTOWN CORE--- MICROSYSTEMS SHOULD BE DESIGNED FOR SHORT-DISTANCE, HIGH-VOLUME CONDITIONS. SYSTEM LENGTH WILL BE LESS THAN 3--4 MILES, AND PASSENGER RIDES WILL BE LESS THAN A MILE. AVERAGE WAITING TIMES SHOULD NOT EXCEED 2--3 MINUTES, WHICH IMPLIES HEADWAYS OF 1--2 MINUTES DURING PEAK PERIODS. FROM ASSUMPTIONS MADE ABOUT A 30-PASSENGER BUS VERSUS A MICROSYSTEM, COMPARISONS ARE MADE REGARDING COSTS AND PATRONAGE. MORE THAN 125 CANDIDATE MICROSYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES HAVE BEEN PROPOSED, OF WHICH A FEW EITHER HAVE SPECIAL PROMISE OR ARE UNDERGOING APPLICATION NOW, GENERALLY AT AIRPORTS.