Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Swing Low City Chariot

An over-the-traffic, people mover borne by a relay of swings
  (+3, -1)
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This transport would function like trapeze artists in a long circus tent, moving from platform to platform with one trapeze after the other. The passengers would probably travel, strapped down, in a cigar-shaped cabin the size of a small bus that would swing on two cables anchored on buildings or towers on each side.

The cables would angle outwards from the cabin for stability, and as the cabin leaves each platform, it would get a push with compressed air (alternatively torque at the cable anchor points) so that it would swing up to the same height at the next platform. The stay at the next platform would be only momentary to preserve forward momentum, as the next cable pair connects and the pair behind is released. When released, the used cable pair swings back to wait for connection to the next cabin.

More like Tarzan swinging through the jungle than Spiderman, the occupants would loop above the street and, with a platform over an intersection, could even turn corners. Cabins traveling the opposite direction would travel above, on their own cables.

FarmerJohn, Aug 29 2002

Urban Jungle (Gym) http://www.halfbake...an_20jungle_20(gym)
Amazingly enough we had this idea before. [Aristotle, Aug 29 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

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       We have had this one before [see link].
Aristotle, Aug 29 2002
  

       I see what you mean, but this is meant as a mechanized form of group transportation rather than an individual jungle "playground".
FarmerJohn, Aug 29 2002
  

       Weird. I was gonna post exactly the same thing. Only I didn't.
polartomato, Aug 30 2002
  

       I like this. It's like a horizontal version of the device that Cornish miners used to descend and ascend mine shafts.
angel, Aug 30 2002
  

       Angel: Awk .... try Googling for "Levant Mine Man Engine Disaster". VERY nasty ....
8th of 7, Aug 30 2002
  

       [8th]: Yes, I'm fully familiar with that event. I visit the Levant mine regularly - the winding engine has been restored by the Trevithick Society (of which I am a member) and runs under steam most days in the season.
angel, Aug 30 2002
  

       This gets a + from me. First few sentences I had in mind a city-wide ski-lift device, which was cute enough, but then the whole spiderman action thing pushed it over the top.
RayfordSteele, Aug 30 2002
  

       There's an overhead monorail in Wupperthal, Germany, which bears slight similarities to this concept - I'll see if I can find a link.
8th of 7, Aug 30 2002
  


 

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