JB Critic @wasandisls-blog - Tumblr Blog

Elevated transit v.s. Road transit

This Startup Wants To Replace Cars (And Subways) With Elevated Pods; as published by FastCompany, 9 May 2018. Transit X’s plan would set up fast-moving, solar-powered personal transit (PRT) to whisk you anywhere you wanted to go without stops within the network.

"A startup called Transit X argues that we need a different form of mass transit to get people to stop driving. The company’s system, which it says will soon be deployed in the Philippines, will use networks of lightweight, automated, solar-powered pods. Each small pod car is large enough for up to five people, and suspended from a narrow elevated rail 14 feet (or higher) above the ground..."

in pod sizes for people or freight and handicapped (on demand)

"...the system would reduce or eliminate most of the costs of public transportation–it doesn’t need land or drivers or fuel, the simple vehicles need less maintenance than other vehicles, and construction is far cheaper than building something like a subway system. The company believes its system is cheap enough to finance itself. The company will pay cities 5% in fees and taxes for the right to an easement for the space it uses. The startup plans to demonstrate a pilot system in Boston in late 2018."

LS comment: The CRD "company" could be Victoria BC Transit or Wilson?

#transit options #rail vs.road #prt

Robots v.s. People

Robots vs. humans: Who will win the fight for the jobs of the future Drew Pearce, AUVSI news, 8 Feb 2018.

"Here are five jobs that are likely to stay in demand—and become easier—as more workers begin collaborating with robots."

Healthcare workers; Artists, designers, and musicians; Entrepreneurs; Salespeople; and Teachers.

LS Comment: Every transformation prompted by technical improvements through the last 2000 years has disrupted employment patterns but also has enhanced the education levels of mankind and enabled new endeavours. What may be most essential now is worldwide limitations in birth rates and greater emphasis on education for versatility in language and employment options. Related reference: McKinsey & Company (link)

#employment #robots #education #technical developments

Island needs Railway !

Sample needs for E&N rail services. by Avis Rasmussen - 26 Dec 2017

"A modern railway going both ways (Victoria to Qualicum) in one day (e.g. today)when Malahat closed for snow) with a sensible schedule could have resolved the problem for me since Qualicum has an E&N station in the heart of that town!

As I have pointed out to those who never use the Greyhound or Tofino Bus to attend the Chemainus Christmas Theatre to see a current performance ... those who wish to attend the Theatre could do so on a restored E&N .... instead, the Greyhound now leaves Victoria in the evening arriving in Chemainus after the Theatre commences and only leaves Chemainus in the morning for Victoria.

This means that to attend Chemainus Theatre performances you need to stay over two nights if you have no vehicle (or Malahat is closed)!

A medieval public transportation system on Vancouver Island simply supporting the automobile infrastructure."

LS Comment: There are many seniors at both ends of the current defunct E&N who endorse those sentiments; all are now deprived of appropriate transit options, not only for concerts; but visiting friends and shopping at any of the communities along that rail line. Please write to your Island MLA (link).

https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members

#transit options #E&N #road congestion #senior travel

Good transit News?

On this boxing day 2017, YES, thanks to all who have made demands for improvements in our CRD public transit infrastructure. It seems that our two plus decades of agitation, have finally prompted the Mayor and Council of Victoria to petition all other CRD municipalities and the BC government to take action on a long list of transformation options. See those objectives as published in the linked document. https://www.dropbox.com/s/4ymi687z7x3amdl/Vic-ltr-transitaction.pdf?dl=0

Now, please reiterate your views on the subject by writing to your Vic CRD Councillor (https://www.crd.bc.ca/) and MLA (https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members). And, please read our weekly news bulletins tracking the progress made on each objective during the New Year, 2018.

President of IslandTransformations.Org (https://www.islandtransformations.org)

#urban transit #commuter rail #transit options #region governance

Why Site C for BC?

China Building Second Enormous Floating Solar Farm on Top of Defunct Coal Mine, by EcoWatch, as reported by Climate Reality, 24 Dec 2017.

https://tinyurl.com/y98ku2x2

"China, the largest producer and consumer of coal, has significantly ramped up its investment in renewable energy. The Asian country has more solar capacity than any other country in the world and it intends to invest at least $361 billion in renewables by 2020."

LS Comment: So, why not BC? See the rational view of David Boyd in TC's feature comment on 24 Dec 2017. https://www.dropbox.com/s/4cndxpa740gasbp/TC-E-ed-BCgreenE-24dec2017.pdf?dl=0

Happy New Year?

#green energy #solar power

Unmanned Delivery Options

DRONE DELIVERY CANADA'S CARGO DELIVERY UAS NOW COMPLIANT with Transport Canada standards, AUVSI NEWS, DEC 18, 2017.

"...the first requirement for being allowed to conduct Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations."

LS Comment: When operational, this should help to reduce some of the UPS and Purolator road traffic to Sooke and Renfrew, etc.

#rural delivery #unmanned systems #transport options

A new city bus service

AUTONOM SHUTTLE, the Revolutionary First and Last Mile Travel Solution +60 autonomous buses are deployed worldwide!

Discover some of our shuttles operating in other weather conditions:

Read and See more:

LS Comment: Such autonomous bus service would be ideal for every Park & Ride location from the suburbs of Downtown Victoria, e.g. James Bay routes @ 10 min intervals to and from a downtown terminal (City Hall?) or, e.g. the Vic West terminal of the E&N commuter terminal?

#autonomous #transit trends

Growing Solar Demand

What Changed In The Solar Market In November? December 17th, 2017 by Zachary Shahan, Clean Technica.

"...this article...covers significant shifts, trends, and new opportunities in the solar market.

Read on for the November summary."

"The International Solar Alliance has announced a pilot program to guarantee up to $1 billion for (each) solar power project development across the world. In other words, the program is providing financial guarantees to developers to encourage them to build projects. The expectation is that this pilot program “will attract investments worth $15 billion to set up 20 gigawatts of solar power capacity.”

LS Comment: Canada should be on board for such developments, at least one of which should be in the high wind and solar sectors of BC.

#clean energy #solar power #project funding

Crosswalk Safety News

CMU Robotics Institute & Traffic Signals as published by Unmanned Systems Magazine, 8 Dec 2017

"...the system for people with disabilities will start with a set of existing smart signals in Pitsburgh Carnegie Library to aid the blind and physically handicapped."

and the attached adobe document:

LS comment: This could be ideal for crossings that are near schools, hospitals and rest homes. Worthy of consideration in every CRD municipality.

#crosswalk safety #handicapped app #robotics

Victoria CRD transit options

We are seeking your vote for one of three options that are currently available to a degree but which need to be prioritized. These options are described in three YouTube videos as follows:

Transit Oriented Development

Walkable and cyclic able cities

Driverless vehicle capable

Then, please go to Menti.com and the code 530466 to vote for your preferred option(s) before 22 Dec 2017; yes, and we will have Santa provide the results on Boxing Day 2017

#survey #transit options

Smart Cities Game Changer

Could smart cities save governments, people and companies $5trillion annually? - SmartCitiesWorld News, 07 Dec 2017.

Note the strong emphasis here on the role of transportation infrastructure and grid communication. LS

"The new report points to several use cases of smart city technology. One example is the oneTRANSPORT project in the United Kingdom which used the Chordant platform to address challenges in transportation systems with IoT technology. The oneTRANSPORT project enabled transport information to be shared by a number of stakeholders including transport authorities, municipal authorities, and new third parties, to optimies transport networks across towns and cities."

LS Comment: On the way to millions of people in the Victoria CRD, these functions of governance need to be heeded.

#transportation plans #region governance

UK - A model for Transportation Planning

Budget seeks to put UK at the heart of the digital revolution SmartCitiesWorld News, 23 Nov 2017.

"A new Transforming Cities Fund is also designed to give areas the “firepower” to deliver on local transport priorities."

"Chancellor Hammond made a claim that driverless cars will be on the UK roads by 2021 and the Government stepped up its support to make this a reality. “There is perhaps no technology as symbolic of the revolution gathering pace around us as driverless vehicles....”

On the subject of Infrastructure and Local Empowerment, "There was an admission that too much of the UK’s economic strength is concentrated in the capital city and, to truly to build an economy that is fit for the future, “we have to get all parts of the UK firing on all cylinders”.

"More than £1 billion of discounted lending will also be available to local authorities across the country to support high-value infrastructure projects."

LS Comment: Will our Ministers of Transportation and Infrastructure, please take note !! Will those who read this please put pen to paper on the subject? (Address links: provincial and federal)

#transit options #governance #community planning

Road Traffic Bylaw Enforcement

"White Knuckle Driving" in Goa India, the Editor of SmartCitiesWorld reveals her experience, by Melony Rocque, 30 Nov 2017.

"...accidents in Goa are on an upward trajectory with one person dying every single day in a road traffic accident (and that doesn’t include those who are seriously maimed and injured)."

So, "...the Director General of Police in Goa launched the Traffic Sentinel scheme, a platform running on WhatsApp through which concerned citizens can report traffic offenders and in turn earn cash rewards....Citizens have to register to become traffic sentinels and, depending on the type of violation they report, will earn him/her points. Triple seat riding on a scooter/bike and using a mobile whilst driving, for example, earns you ten points, parking on a zebra crossing gets you three, while zigzag driving (!!) gets you just two. Once 100 points have been accumulated, the traffic sentinel can claim Rs1,000 and then you start all over again."

LS Comment: Perhaps some degree of such bylaw enforcement should be offered to the citizens of every road congested city in Canada.

#road congestion #bylaws

Public Transit Popularity

In the US (as reported in usa.streetsblog.org dated 24Feb2017)"...transit ridership decreased in almost every major city. But there were two cities that bucked the trend — Seattle and Houston, which posted 4.1 and 2.3 percent increases, respectively."

In Canada we understand that Vancouver bus and rail transit has grown similarly; i.e. 4%

Employed labour force by main mode of commuting, Canada, 2016 Census

Main mode of commuting: Number: Percentage Car, truck, van – as a driver 11.75m 74.0%

Car, truck, van – passenger .87m 5.5%

Public transit 1.97m 12.4%

Walked .88m 5.5%

Bicycle .22m 1.4%

Other method .19m 1.2% ----------------------------------

Read more: Washington Post By Martine Powers April 22, 2017. (link)

And, according to "Relatively few seniors use public transit" (link)

“Elderly men seldom cited transportation problems as the reason for limited participation. For women aged 85 and over however, transportation problems were the second most common reason after health problems for not participating in more social, recreational or group activities (24%). Transportation problems were mentioned by 10% of women aged 75 to 84.”

LS Comment: Other blogs have revealed two trends in this century: the melenials (our youth) prefer walking or cycling than the growing costs of cars and fossil fuels while the growing number of seniors, especially in moderate climates such as lower BC, need an alternative to cars and fossil fuels. So, let’s provide them all with improved walk and cycle trails and public transit options! The mayor of Victoria has endorsed such a transformation; now, let’s see the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure provide legislation and funds to accelerate the transformation.

#transit trends #transit options #governance

First driverless community

World’s first public trial of robo-taxi service in Singapore Smart Cities World News, 26 Aug 2016.

"Singapore is understood to be the first country in the world to carry out a public trial of a self-driving taxi service.

The taxis operated by nuTonomy, a developer of state-of-the art software for self-driving cars, can be hailed within Singapore’s one-north business district, where the company has been conducting daily autonomous vehicle (AV) testing since April.

A select group of Singaporean residents will be able to use nuTonomy’s ride-hailing smartphone app to book free rides in the company’s self-driving vehicles.

According to nuTonomy, its so-called ‘robo-taxi’ service will use specially configured Renault Zoe or Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric vehicles, equipped with sophisticated software, which has been integrated with high-performance sensing and computing components."

"...nuTonomy was selected by the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) as an R&D partner, to support development of a commercial AV service..."

LS comment: So, why not a development planner or municipality within the Victoria CRD? Let’s be the first in Canada !

#autonomous vehicles #driverless transit

Quo Vadis BC Energy Options

A BC Without Site C Best Bet for Taxpayers By Jay Ritchlin, 29 Nov 2017, TheTyee.ca

"Focusing on retaining current construction jobs is a red herring and doesn’t reflect longer-term numbers."

"By 2054, the alternative energies assessed by the B.C. Utilities Commission will have created three times as many jobs as Site C. Those jobs will reduce carbon emissions and make us leaders in the clean energy economy, without destroying ecosystems, farmland and a First Nation’s treaty-protected way of life."

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