Do We Need Alternatives to Air Travel?

Sure; a Montgomery Scott beamer.

Better to reduce the travel itself, as besides safety, any travel mode is going to harm the environment. We need to spare the earth for our next generations.

No.

Mankind has always broadened his horizons with travel, from the first inhabitant, searching for new food, accommodations etc.

I'm confident he will always aspire to exploring new cultures, customs.

I would encourage it, personally. Tends to make better 'people'. In very facet of humanity.

What we need to do, as engineers and inventors, is to produce modes of travel more akin to the originals than to the ones which have developed, and that we now use.

Much as a lot of folk hate it, I think nuclear/steam/electric powered mass transport will ultimately succeed. And more on the surface than in the air.

Perhaps the least polluting. Until one of us invents a viable alternative.

As a longtime sailor, I personally like the wind as a motive force, but it's a bit inconsiderate at times.

Damned well won't blow down the road I want to travel. ( part of the Irish Traveller's wish - "to always have the wind at your back")

As this planet further fills with human inhabitants, they are going to want to visit each other in different lands in far greater numbers than currently travel.

Maybe it'll be the ultimate in electronics which will allow "virtual" traveling.

Then I guess we'll have to begin on developing "virtual" food too.

Stu.

I do have "wind at the back", but it does not propell me forwad, nor is it carbon neutral!

Probably need to change your diet.

Stu.

I agree, I need to improve my performance, which diet would help in good propulsion?

Rajesh

Beans, beans, the musical fruit;
The more you eat, the more you toot.
The more you toot, the better you feel--
So let's have beans for every meal!

Good one, but alas not GA

I think if everybody goes along with this technique, the we would be giving different meaning to the word "locomotion", but would the world be greener or smellier?

Rajesh

I like the idea of embedding trolley rails in existing roadways. Vehicles could have drop down rail wheels with smart wire guidance to facilatate switching, control speed, adjust spacing etc. Reduced friction would greatly inhance miles per gallon and greatly extend the range of electric cars.

That's great idea I heard for first time. Any information on the difference, fricion between car tyres and metalled/concrete road Vs rails and steel wheels?

Rajesh

Rajesh Google will take you to many fuel/ton/mile sites. The sites give figures for rail. Example one rail ton goes 235 miles per gallon of fuel. I searched using the words "fuel used per ton rail vs highway". Here is one link.

http://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/transportation/a_freightrr.html Charlie

Thanks a lot.

Rajesh

Many years ago someone turned me on to the "deltoid pumpkin seed" story.

There are still people working on reviving lighter-than-air craft for use in people and cargo transport. Great way to reduce fuel use!

The newer technology consists mostly of high speed trains. It would be a little safer to put these underground, but no one wants to pay for that. But again: More fuel-efficient.

Then of course there is the talk of "secret" technologies that could be applied to the problem of transportation. See the John Searle Story for a public example of this.

Beyond this, in the short term it might be really smart and more economical to find ways to work and visit that don't involve flying (or driving) around so much.

I really fear to fly. I'm so looking forward to Elon Musk's Hyperloop across oceans. I want to visit Disneyland but I won't be able to survive 14 hours of flight (I live in Europe).

Hello,

The best alternative to air travel is of course something speedy and the hyperloop would be exactly what we need. I guess Elon Musk is going to keep his word. The top speed was 288mph (463kph) before the hyperloop exploded the last time they tested it.

Elon Musk promises new Hyperloop tunnel after speed record broken college research essay