Quote:
Originally Posted by thorpie
This is what is needed for longer distance, moderate speed transport. For a number of years I have been struggling with how do you get small, minimalist vehicles to en-train and de-train at speed?
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Now that one has a lot of potential, IMHO.
How about having, as an express lane, light rails set in like tram tracks. You'd pull onto the motorway and get up to moderate speed. When a "train" passes in the express lane, you accelerate, move in behind, and catch up. As you touch bumpers, your rubber tires go into low-rider mode and you sink onto steel wheels as your bumper couples with the car ahead. Some others latch on behind.
Approaching the next exit, you see the car ahead rise and unlatch. If you are asleep, he brakes and accelerates, or you brake a touch and he slides over. Then you can move up and close the gap, or, if it was a popular exit, become the new lead car.
We'd need standardized hitches, bumpers, steel wheel assemblies, and instruments to keep everyone contributing, but it should be a lot smoother and safer than many current flows.