Capacity does not equal speed times size. On any 12 foot New York sidewalk at least a dozen people pass every second. That's a capacity of 43,200 per hour. Even at an S or sled every 4 seconds, assuming 4 persons per vehicle, the project capacity of a Boring tunnel is only 1 person per second. Speed, now that is good - a walking speed of probably 3 miles per hour would be greatly eclipsed by 120 miles per hour, so each individual person would arrive much, much quicker in the tunnel.
But what if we could speed that New York Sidewalk to, say, 35 miles per hour? Even if the capacity was only half that of a cement sidewalk we could still deliver a lot of people at a reasonable rate even up to forty miles or so (many commutes of that distance take even longer what with traffic). I'm talking the moving sidewalk idea in a Boring tunnel, of course.
I've actually thought on the sidewalk idea for some three decades. Even had some write ups, although they escape me right now. Worked with a county council member to see about getting it funded. But the major problem is land - right of way. Above ground it becomes more than difficult. I still think it is a vastly better idea than, say, light rail (a particularly sore subject for King County residents!) but with the tunnels – it becomes almost magic.
With a capacity of 40,000 per hour you could deliver half the working people of any city with no waiting for the bus or train, no parking issues, and many other benefits. That first is a major benefit – whenever you walk to the station you get on and go – you never, ever wait. Weather, scary people, strange hours, nothing of that sort to bother you. Sit on the benches or walk, even jog, but never, ever wait.
I’ve worked out most of the problems with moving the “platforms”. How to connect them, how to pull and replace defective (or non responding) units, how to work the expansion joints, even how to stop them quickly in the event of terrorism or a, less likely, catastrophic natural disaster. Entrance and egress, well, that’s a lot more fun! Still, it would be fantastic to see something like this funded. For less than Elon has into his hole drilling company we could have a working prototype. Maybe even put it between the Fremont factory and some cheaper parking areas. Flex scheduling would be no problem, etc.
So, what thoughts have you all? Or do you even care?!
(Didn’t know where else to put it so hope this forum is okay.)
But what if we could speed that New York Sidewalk to, say, 35 miles per hour? Even if the capacity was only half that of a cement sidewalk we could still deliver a lot of people at a reasonable rate even up to forty miles or so (many commutes of that distance take even longer what with traffic). I'm talking the moving sidewalk idea in a Boring tunnel, of course.
I've actually thought on the sidewalk idea for some three decades. Even had some write ups, although they escape me right now. Worked with a county council member to see about getting it funded. But the major problem is land - right of way. Above ground it becomes more than difficult. I still think it is a vastly better idea than, say, light rail (a particularly sore subject for King County residents!) but with the tunnels – it becomes almost magic.
With a capacity of 40,000 per hour you could deliver half the working people of any city with no waiting for the bus or train, no parking issues, and many other benefits. That first is a major benefit – whenever you walk to the station you get on and go – you never, ever wait. Weather, scary people, strange hours, nothing of that sort to bother you. Sit on the benches or walk, even jog, but never, ever wait.
I’ve worked out most of the problems with moving the “platforms”. How to connect them, how to pull and replace defective (or non responding) units, how to work the expansion joints, even how to stop them quickly in the event of terrorism or a, less likely, catastrophic natural disaster. Entrance and egress, well, that’s a lot more fun! Still, it would be fantastic to see something like this funded. For less than Elon has into his hole drilling company we could have a working prototype. Maybe even put it between the Fremont factory and some cheaper parking areas. Flex scheduling would be no problem, etc.
So, what thoughts have you all? Or do you even care?!
(Didn’t know where else to put it so hope this forum is okay.)
