This blog is often about buying cars. Specifically, buying used cars using Carsala, instead of spending too much on an overpriced new car and having to deal with the deceitful tactics of car sales #%@!s. But what about only using public transportation because it is sooooo good? How revolutionary would that be?

Well, take a look at the first public transportation system that may actually fill that need. London’s Tube is pretty good, but this is so much better. In Abu Dhabi, they are developing a “personal rapid transit” system. Individual pods will take you to exactly where you want to go. Notice in the picture that there appears to be four cables that lower the car down to street level. Theoretically, it could stop anywhere, lower you down, open the doors, and out ya’ go.

One of the keys to this system is that it runs on a grid instead of tracks with pre-defined destinations. The cars can move around the grid to get to exact locations in the minimum amount of time. There are still a lot of issues to work out such as how to power the different pods. Currently, the plan is to have them battery operated. This may be a good idea for the future, but right now battery technology is desperately lagging behind the needs of the consumers and businesses.

This idea has actually been explored before. France spent 18 years trying to create a similar system and ultimately canceled the project because of safety issues. France’s crime-phobic public didn’t want to get mugged in a private car and they apparently could figure out a way to increase safety. Security cameras have been in use since 1968 and police departments have existed since… forever?

The biggest hope for updated public transportation in America probably just happened and it’s included in the new U.S. economic stimulus bill. Here’s what was allocated to public transportation:

· High-speed and inner-city rail: $8 billion

· Public Transit: $6.9 billion

Sweet! This is the answer, right? Unfortunately, no. As an example, the San Francisco Bay Area’s BART system costs $200 million per mile of new track.  That means the entire allocation for public transportation could only build 75 miles of new track – for all of America. Oh well.

So, when will cars be obsolete? Not in our lifetime. Just make sure you don’t spend too much on the car you’re driving while dreaming about getting home in a personal pod.  Make a comment about your dream public transportation system!