What is personal rapid transit ?(non technical version)

It's best to explain this by way of a conceptual journey. You are at your home near Abbyvale and want to go to Bokton.

1) You walk to your local station. Ultimatly most local stations are quite close to domestic developments. The local ( one birth ) stations are quite small. For an elevated Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) System the station could be little more than an elevator on the ground level. On average the walk is the same kind of walk you do to walk to car parking (YMMV).

2) In the station you approach a large ticket machine. This machine lets you pick your destination station. You pay with a travel card ( pay as you go card),credit/debit card or money. Generally you then move to a 'bay' for local stations there are only bay but larger stations (sports arena/station,central stations) have multiple bays.

Like a lift, one door opens to another door and you can enter the carriage/pod/what-ever.

3) You sit on a seat. Like a lift once settled you click/press a 'go' button. Doors shut and your are off. Like a lift if the doors are blocked or the carriage/pod over loaded then the carriage/pod stays put and waits for someone/thing to get out. Unlike a lift you don't share with anyone else. Like a car you can be accompanied by who you choose and like a car everyone has to go to the same destination.

4) The carriage/pod then pulls out and travels along the guide way. Things which a PRT system doesn't do.
a) Stop at every station along the way ( like train/bus)
b) stop at every intersection along the way( like a car/bus)

due to items a) and b) you arrive at your destination station before a train/bus and in the right conditions before the car.

5) You arrive, get out. Unlike a car you don't need to look for parking.

For you the traveler it is that simple.


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