NotUrsula
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2002
For the wheelchair or ECV, I can see the possibility of using a shunt system (think of the loading process for the Toy Story ride), where the track shunts these cars off to a side line stationary loading area. They load, then the CM throws a switch that shunts the gondola back onto the main line. Doing it this way would allow disabled passengers to load without feeling hurried, but would not slow down the load rate for those who can easily step into the slow-moving gondolas.
I'm pretty sure that the ride system for this is going to be the newest D-line design, and that one uses loading platforms that are level with the height of the gondola floor; no stepping up is required.
As to climate control, I stand by my opinion that most Americans will consider the gondolas uncomfortably hot in summertime unless they are equipped with some sort of active cooling system. As far as I've been able to determine, use of systems like these for public transport has so far not happened in hot-climate/low-altitude places where the populace is used to air conditioning, so I'm not sure there actually is a working example in a similar climate with a similar population of users. Yes, the gondolas are moving and creating a bit of a breeze, and yes, they are fairly high in the air for most of the trip, but when the terrain is flat and barely above sea level, 75 ft or so of elevation really doesn't give you a noticeable temperature drop. Sub-tropical sun + high humidity + 8 humans inside an enclosed glass bubble pretty much always equals hot. (Anyone who remembers driving 75 mph through Florida in the 1960's with the windows down and the car packed with kids can attest to that. Your hair was blowing all over, but you were still sweating like mad.)
I'm pretty sure that the ride system for this is going to be the newest D-line design, and that one uses loading platforms that are level with the height of the gondola floor; no stepping up is required.
As to climate control, I stand by my opinion that most Americans will consider the gondolas uncomfortably hot in summertime unless they are equipped with some sort of active cooling system. As far as I've been able to determine, use of systems like these for public transport has so far not happened in hot-climate/low-altitude places where the populace is used to air conditioning, so I'm not sure there actually is a working example in a similar climate with a similar population of users. Yes, the gondolas are moving and creating a bit of a breeze, and yes, they are fairly high in the air for most of the trip, but when the terrain is flat and barely above sea level, 75 ft or so of elevation really doesn't give you a noticeable temperature drop. Sub-tropical sun + high humidity + 8 humans inside an enclosed glass bubble pretty much always equals hot. (Anyone who remembers driving 75 mph through Florida in the 1960's with the windows down and the car packed with kids can attest to that. Your hair was blowing all over, but you were still sweating like mad.)