Today it is difficult to find a person who would not use any vehicle. In the 21st century, vehicles have become so numerous that their diversity is simply dizzying: cars, bicycles, ships, planes and even space shuttles. But this review contains really incredible vehicles, looking at which the question arises - "what is it really?"
1 Hippo
Today it is difficult to surprise someone with an amphibious car. In the second half of the 20th century this species transport was considered one of the most promising, but in the end it turned out to be suitable only for military and "special" purposes. He did not find civilian application in the broad sense. However, enthusiasts do not stop trying to create something that will enjoy popular love, and the Hippo bus is living evidence of this.
The amphibious bus received the speaking name Hippo. It can carry up to 40 passengers on board. Today, its working model can be seen in Toronto, where it is used for sightseeing tours.
2. Personal Rapid Transit
The Personal Rapid Transit is a personal automatic transport with a small streamlined cabin that can fit just one person. Works on an electric motor. This amazing vehicle drives without human assistance. But you can see Personal Rapid Transit in just one place - at Heathrow International Airport in London. It is possible that in the future major cities there will be more networks of such automated transport.
3. Wubbo Superbus
There are many rumors and tales about the luxurious life of the citizens of the United United Arab Emirates. However, not all of this fiction. For example, the Wubbo Superbus bus on 23 seats- reality. It runs between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This unusual representative accelerates public transport up to 250 km/h. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that it is a mixture of a bus, a hypercar and a limousine. The bus developers are a company from the Netherlands.
4.GoCar
GoCar tricycles are a very peculiar form of transport. They were jokingly nicknamed "singing taxis". You can see these in Barcelona, where they are used for tourist purposes - sightseeing. main feature tricycles is that they do not have drivers, they travel along a given route, and are guided by a set of sensors and a GPS module.
The “singing” GoCars are nicknamed for the fact that they can sing a song, tell a joke or tell news if a passenger suddenly gets bored on an excursion.
5. Central-Mid Levels
Hong Kong, like the vast majority of major cities on the planet, is suffocated by car and pedestrian traffic. The city authorities once decided to solve this problem with the help of such a non-standard means of transportation as an escalator. Our citizens are accustomed to seeing them only in the subway, but in transitions, and in Hong Kong they connect entire streets! On some sections of the Central-Mid Levels, you can drive up to 1 kilometer without transfers.
Central-Mid Levels could not solve the problem of traffic congestion, but it has become one of the city's attractions and is in great demand among tourists.
6. Santa Justa
The Santa Justa elevator in Lisbon is known to the whole world primarily for the fact that it was created by the students of Gustave Eiffel himself. It was created over a hundred years ago. The elevator shaft connects the two urban areas and has a height of 45 meters. The elevator was originally steam engine, after which it was replaced with an electric one. At the very top is an observation deck. For those who are wary of elevators, the tower has a reliable spiral staircase.
7 MagLev
Electric levitation train "MagLev" connects the center of Shanghai and the local airport. Its speed is 430 km/h. As follows from the characteristics, the train does not ride on the rails, but hovering over them. However, there is no magic in this, only good old physics, namely magneto-levitation. By the way, so high speed movement has been achieved largely thanks to this technology.
Continuing the theme, showing what he wants to achieve.
Incredible Facts
Buses, taxis and trains are found all over the world, but sometimes familiar modes of transport take on an unusual shape.
It has long been known that the trip itself to a place of interest to you can be a real adventure, and this is true, especially if you have to make your trip on one of the most unusual modes of transport.
Floating bus, Canada
Hippos(Hippo) is a unique vessel with a capacity of approximately 40 passengers that offers land and water tours of Toronto in Canada. This amphibious bus offers tourists and locals a unique way to see the city. The ride starts on the ground and then the bus plunges into Lake Ontario.
You can take an urban safari in one of Canada's most beautiful cities with all of its historic sites and majestic waterways, or take a dip in Lake Ontario on this unusual bus that floats.
There are life jackets on the bus, and like any aircraft, the guide briefly demonstrates how to use them before the bus submerges. However, don't worry, the inside of the bus is dry except for a little spray on windy days.
Hanging train, Germany
Wuppertal cableway is the only suspended urban railway line that for most of its length passes over the River Wupper at a height of 12 m. Only the most West Side between Sonnberner and Vohwinkel runs over the streets for 3.3 km at a height of 8 meters.
For almost 100 years it was one of the safest vehicles in the world, but unfortunately in 1999 during construction works there was an accident when the train fell into the river and claimed the lives of 3 people. The only rail that carries the train is supported by 472 iron arches that span the entire course of the river. Recently, all the arches have been replaced and the station has been refurbished to its original design.
Underground funicular Carmelit, Israel
Carmelite- This underground funicular in Haifa in Israel. It opened in 1956, closed in 1986 and was rebuilt in 1992 after costly repair work. Since most of the city of Haifa is built on top of Mount Carmel, Carmelite, which was named after this mountain, is an underground funicular that goes up and down the mountain. The height difference between the initial and last station is 274 m.
wagons Carmelita located obliquely, with steps in each car and on the platform of each station. Since the slope changes along the way, the floors in each trailer are never level and tilt either slightly up or down depending on the location.
Carmelite is one of the smallest underground transportation systems in the world, with only 4 trailers, six stations and one 1.8 km long tunnel.
Polar rover, Canada
This vehicle looks like a lifted bus on huge wheels truck. But did you know that specially equipped and heated polar rovers that can see polar bears living in the wild in northern Canada were once used as rescue vehicles to fight airport fires? They have been redesigned to handle difficult conditions icy, choppy and rocky tundra and to provide a comfortable vehicle for travelers who want to see the Arctic for themselves.
Ice boat, USA
Madeleine Island is the only one of the Apostle Islands in the US state of Wisconsin that is uninhabited and summer time associated with the city bayfield by ferry on the mainland, and in winter, when the water in Lake Superior freezes, by an ice track. However, during the transition period, when the ice is not strong enough to support traffic, this connection is made with the help of buoys, special boats with fans.
Canal water taxi, Thailand
Bangkok is often called " Venice in the East"because of its network of canals. The river and water taxis are an important part of the city transport system, and in many cases much faster than close traffic on the roads. Due to fluctuating tides and some very low bridges, these boats have to dive in some places. Water taxis slow down at low bridges, and the canopy's canvases lower briefly, forcing many passengers to stoop.
Bamboo train, Cambodia
People with a strong physique can experience the bamboo train in Cambodia, which the locals call nori. Passengers board a makeshift bamboo platform, powered by an electric motor, just a few centimeters above the railroad tracks, traveling at 40 kilometers per hour. Unrepaired railways make the ride quite bumpy and the most comfortable thing you can afford is to sit on a grass mat. However, the fare is low and you will definitely remember such a trip for a lifetime. The locals use the bamboo train to get around.
Cable car, USA
The Roosevelt Island Cable Car is a kind of aerial tram in New York, which spans the East River and connects Roosevelt Island with Manhattan. Each cabin accommodates about 110 people and makes about 115 trips a day. The tram moves at a speed of approximately 28.8 km/h and travels approximately 940 m in 3 minutes. It rises 76 m above the East River, following the route from the north side Queensboro Bridge, offering a view of the East Side in Manhattan.
Hippo (Hippo) is a unique vessel with a capacity of approximately 40 passengers, which offers land and water tours of Toronto in Canada. This amphibious bus offers tourists and locals a unique way to see the city. The ride starts on the ground and then the bus plunges into Lake Ontario.
You can take an urban safari in one of Canada's most beautiful cities with all of its historic sites and majestic waterways, or take a dip in Lake Ontario on this unusual bus that floats.
The bus has life jackets, and like any aircraft, the guide briefly demonstrates how to use them before the bus submerges. However, don't worry, the inside of the bus is dry except for a little spray on windy days.
Carmelit is an underground funicular in Haifa in Israel. It opened in 1956, closed in 1986 and was rebuilt in 1992 after costly renovations. Since most of the city of Haifa is built on top of Mount Carmel, the Carmelite, which was named after this mountain, is an underground funicular that goes up and down the mountain. The height difference between the initial and last station is 274 m.
The Carmelita cars are slanted, with steps in each car and on the platform of each station. Since the slope changes along the way, the floors in each trailer are never level and tilt either slightly up or down depending on the location.
Carmelit is one of the smallest underground transportation systems in the world, with only 4 trailers, six stations and one 1.8 km long tunnel.
This vehicle looks like a raised bus on huge truck wheels. But did you know that specially equipped and heated polar rovers that can see polar bears living in the wild in northern Canada were once used as rescue vehicles to fight airport fires? They have been redesigned to handle the harsh conditions of the icy, choppy and rocky tundra and provide a comfortable vehicle for travelers who want to see the Arctic for themselves.
Madeleine Island is the only one of the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin in the United States that is uninhabited and is connected to the city of Bayfield by a ferry on the mainland in the summer and by an ice track in the winter when the water in Lake Superior freezes. However, during the transition period, when the ice is not strong enough to support traffic, this connection is made with the help of buoys, special boats with fans.
Bangkok is often referred to as the "Venice of the East" because of its network of canals. The river and water taxis are an important part of the urban transport system, and in many cases much faster than the congested traffic on the roads. Due to fluctuating tides and some very low bridges, these boats have to dive in some places. The water taxi slows down at low motes, and the canopy curtains lower briefly, forcing many passengers to bend over.
People with a strong physique can experience the bamboo train in Cambodia, which is called nori by the locals. Passengers board a makeshift bamboo platform, powered by an electric motor, just a few centimeters above the railroad tracks, traveling at 40 kilometers per hour. The unrepaired railroad tracks make the ride quite bumpy and the most comfortable thing you can afford is to sit on a grass mat. However, the fare is low and you will definitely remember such a trip for a lifetime. The locals use the bamboo train to get around.
The Roosevelt Island Cable Car is a kind of aerial tramway in New York that spans the East River and connects Roosevelt Island to Manhattan. Each cabin accommodates about 110 people and makes about 115 trips a day. The tram moves at a speed of approximately 28.8 km/h and travels approximately 940 m in 3 minutes. It rises 76m above the East River, following a route from the north side of the Queensboro Bridge, overlooking Manhattan's East Side.
On the heels of obsolete types of urban transport come new innovative developments. And even though they look unusual and even eccentric for now, the future lies with them. Old trams, trolleybuses and buses will sooner or later go to the dustbin of history, and more advanced vehicles will take their place. You can evaluate some of the alternative modes of transport today. As long as it's single individual projects, but soon many of them may become popular all over the world.
OLEV
An innovative tram-type vehicle that does not need rails and "horns". OLEV is powered by special elements, which are embedded in pavement. These elements not only charge the batteries in a non-contact mode, but also indicate the correct route. Several experimental OLEV formulations have successfully taken root in South Korea, where they are used as recreational vehicles in the park area. Using a similar technology, it is planned to create a full-fledged urban version of this unusual type of transport.
Elevador de Santa Justa
In cities with difficult mountainous terrain, it can be very difficult to establish a traditional public transport system. That's why you have to use funiculars, cable cars and even huge outdoor elevators. A vivid example of this is Lisbon, where the Elevador de Santa Justa elevator has existed for many years, helping residents of the Portuguese capital and city guests to climb steep slope connecting the areas of Baixa and Chiado.
Taxi Ultra
Last year, London Heathrow Airport launched a pilot version of a new urban transport - the unmanned taxi ULTra. The concept of this extraordinary vehicle is to drive small cabins on special isolated roads from station to station. A automatic system prevents these vehicles from colliding with fences and each other.
Overhead ferry
A standard ferry, in our understanding of the word, should sail through rivers, lakes or straits back and forth. However, in the suburbs of the Basque city of Bilbao, there is a ferry that completely breaks our stereotypes about this type of transport. We are talking about the Biscay Bridge - a platform flying over the Nervion River, transporting people and cars in shuttle mode through the air.
Escalator Mechanical Ramps
A very unusual public transport appeared in the capital of the Basque Country - Mechanical Ramps street escalator. It was created to help the inhabitants of this locality to move as quickly and conveniently as possible along the hilly streets of the Old City of Vitoria. And to protect from rain and snow, the entire route of this escalator is covered with a transparent glass pavilion that allows natural ventilation, but does not let water and strong gusts of wind through.
Flying saucers
Flying saucers were developed by German engineers back in the 40s of the last century. This project was strictly classified, the devices were intended for atmospheric flights and had to be very fast and maneuverable.
A great resonance was caused by information about the attack in 1946 by the American Admiral Byrd with unidentified objects. Visually, they resembled the very Nazi plates, and in addition, information was circulating about the German Antarctic base - "New Swabia".
flying tanks
Various modifications armored vehicles long excited the imagination of designers. At one time it was popular to invent huge tanks and all-terrain vehicles. But at the same time, the problem of maneuverability and transportation remained. In addition, for 1919-1939. the heyday of aeronautics. So someone came up with the idea to combine two dreams under one cover, creating the perfect device. This is how the winged tank was born, though it did not live up to the hopes of the military in the tests.
Armored combat snowmobiles
The military took into account the peculiarities of the tetra of proposed actions, and in the USSR, for the Finnish War of 1939, several prototypes of advanced combat vehicles - snowmobile tanks - were built. Snow-covered Canada also worked in the same direction.
Huge airship projects
At one time airships were popular and very promising transport, the Zeppelin concepts seemed to be in a strong position. But in 1937, the Hiddenburg crashed, which was the collapse of the whole concept. Now, by the way, the ideas of giant leisurely airships also come to life at times.
Flying minibuses on the principle of a hot air balloon
Unusual modes of transport at the beginning of the century were firmly associated with aeronautics. They even issued postcards, like the German confectioners Hildebrands, who published a series dedicated to airships and their modifications in 2000.
Personal mini airship
But the giant Zeppelins were more like an analogue of ocean liners, there were projects and flying minibuses, but you want to be able to move in the sky and individually - so everyone will have their own personal airship. One such device was created by the Brazilian aviator Albert Santos-Dumont, who assembled his own transport.
Helicopter car
After the collapse of the idea of airships and with this active development of the automotive industry, the ideas of a personal flying car began to emerge. Wings should have been given to him by an airplane or a helicopter. Here, the developers did not waste time on trifles, the main thing is to give the end user a mobile individual flying station wagon.
unicycle
Reducing the number of wheels to a minimum was also one of the directions of engineering. Monocycles were a popular curiosity, but they were always piece products. Perhaps now there will be mass vehicles on this principle. A transport , in which goods are transported, this is not a curiosity, it is reliable, professional and modern. Delivery of goods from China is the most profitable result for customers.
Exist different kinds transport that we encounter in our daily life: from cars to trains… We are used to this transport, thanks to it we can easily get from point A to point B. And it doesn’t matter if you are a child and take the bus to school , or you are a pensioner and get home by train. We all always rely on regular modes of transport. However, I want to offer you other modes of transport that will give you such an impression that you may be disappointed in cars and other modes of transport that you are used to.
1. Mayder's sleigh - daredevil transport))) /MADEIRA'S TOBOGGAN
Madeira is a small, quaint Portuguese island that is famous for its natural beauty. There is something unique about this island - the suburb of Monte, located high above the capital. There you can ride a sleigh down the hill (2 km) at speeds up to 45 km/h. This mode of transport appeared in the 1800s and was used by the locals. Nowadays, this transport is a popular attraction for tourists. Well, are you brave enough to ride?
2. B-BUGS Buggy- perfect look transport for british weather
3. Hippos - bus - hybrid / HIPPOS
Hippos can be found in Toronto. This hybrid bus- boat. A great way to get around Lake Ontario and the streets of Toronto. You don’t even have to change transport, because hippos can both ride and swim. However, be careful if you choose to sit in the front, you may end up splashed.
4. Sauna-boat: 2 in 1 for your relaxation /SAUNA-BOAT
Continuing the theme of water, we note that the boat is a sauna, great way relax calmly. Sweden became the first country in the world to offer such an experience. Just imagine, you take a steam bath in the sauna, and then go out on the deck of a floating boat, isn't it great?
5. Wuppertal - the oldest elevated Railway/WUPPERTAL SCHWEBEBAHN
What can be said without any doubt about the Germans is that they are the masters of technology. Wuppertal is the oldest elevated road in the world. And this is just one example of the dominance of the Germans in the field of technology. Wuppertal is completely opposite to a regular train. It is suspended on rails. I think it takes courage to ride this train.
6. Bamboo train - part of the story under threat / BAMBOO TRAIN
Well? Did you like this list of unusual modes of transport? If you have experience using one or some of them, please share with us in the comments.
