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To: AC Flyer who wrote (13328)	1/11/2002 9:35:20 PM
From: Maurice Winn	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 74559

AC, I think you meant the technologies which will make a difference will be more prosaic, not less. The Segway and a superconductor-levitated electronically/photonically individual transport vehicle are far from prosaic. Improved batteries, 4 stroke engines, fuel-cells and gas turbines are prosaic. The Segway and is anything but. An individual dual-function vehicle which can zip around town or hop in the superconducting tube to go the long haul [or busy routes] would give MORE individual freedom, not less. I think SUV drivers, stewing in their own juice, stuck on a freeway would think the zippy tube units would look like freedom. Same as carpool lanes feel like freedom when zooming along. Freeways are as much mass-transit as a train. The difference is what happens at both ends. In the tube, people would have the benefits of mass transport and then when they pop out of the tube, they could tootle on home in their own unit. The key to it is to take control away from humans who are demonstrably unfit to drive a vehicle. Their reaction times are about half a second, compared with nanoseconds for photonic systems. Their awareness, attention-span, response quality and all sorts of functions are pitiful. Sure, we aren't there yet, but in 1902, the idea of having 400 people 10km high going at 1000 kph halfway around the world non-stop would have seemed questionable. Freeway jams and other traffic delays are a huge economic impetus. When there is a huge economic impetus, people find solutions and make profits. Death and mayhem in aircraft and on roads is an economic impetus too. Airports are unpleasant for everyone [count the smiles and laughter to see what I mean]. That's an economic impetus. Tightening the belts on the steam-engine and adding a fuel-cell is NOT the answer to transport blues. Mqurice