"Bicycle" Monorail more efficient?

[Frank Lee]

Google Invests $1M in Shweeb's Bike-Powered Monorail

[Patrick]

Well you won't get hit by a car. But what if the person in front of you is a slow-poke?

[RobertSmalls]

His fat ass stops pedaling once you start pushing him, and in frustration, you pop your pod and walk the rest of the way. There would actually be a clot of vacant pods in that case. I'll take elevated bike lanes in the style of limited access expressways, thanks.

What's up with the total lack of good aerodynamics on those pods?

[cfg83]

Frank -

What a bunch a Shweebs.

CarloSW2

[cfg83]

Frank -

Hmmmm, 28 MPH is ok if you can sustain it.

Can you imagine how smelly those things would get? Or do you bring your own?

CarloSW2

[Old Mechanic]

Jesus you guys need to imagine a little.

Drafting at 40+ MPH.

A fairly sharp incline for your pulse then a shallow decline for your glide.

Small battery and electric motor for those who need some help.

Heavier people will glide longer.

Riding in a gang in close proximity for even greater speed.

I see it hitting 50 MPH speeds, with much less effort than a bicycle.

All weather capability.

regards
Mech

[Old Mechanic]

Think of a sidewalk that has steps which you climb. Then you jump on your skateboard and ride the shallow decline for a couple hundred feet.

Compare that to walking.

The purpose of a machine is to make you effort more efficient and this one has much potential.

regards
Mech

[RobertSmalls]

@Old Mechanic: Human lungs and legs don't like to P&G. The best way to extract power is at a constant 90-120RPM. This monorail, like a bicycle, can provide that given enough gears.

It's a thoroughly nifty idea, but there are a few glaring problems. Such as what to do when the guy in the middle of the peloton reaches his exit. If the pods looked more like ultra low drag HPVs, they would go faster without much need to draft.

[Frank Lee]

I sure like to P&G when I ride...

[dcb]

lots of things pulse and glide
Other incarnations of Pulse & Glide