The buzz lately in the tech world has been how the world is going to solve problems pertaining to the environmental sustainability of travelling. With global warming, seemingly endless traffic congestion issues, and the layout of cities and suburbs leaving some out to dry when it comes to transit, solutions will inevitably have to come from the innovative tech industry. While some ideas haven’t even made it to the drawing board yet, there are some innovative travel concepts making their way into the real world. To learn more I talked to JustFly, an online travel company. They were able to breakdown three environmentally friendly alternatives that may be making their way to streets, cities, and skies sooner than you think.
Self-Driving Cars
It seems like every high-end tech company in the world has their hat in the self-driving car game. Whether its companies like Google who have been seen testing cars in the wild, or Apple who is rumoured to be developing their own model, it seems self-driving cars are inevitable according to JustFly’s review. What does this mean for improving driving? Well, in theory the number of accidents would drop, communal driving would increase, and drivers would take the most efficient routes available. Paired with electric and hybrid motors, the future of cars seems to be heading towards an automated and efficient future.
Velo-City
Biking is obviously a very healthy and efficient means of getting to work. But, it can also be dangerous thanks to poor cycling infrastructure and unkind drivers. Well bikes are nothing new, the way we ride them can make cycling safer and more attractive to those who are apprehensive about sharing the road with drivers. Enter Velo-City. This unique idea was nearly okayed in Toronto, Ontario before funding fell through. JustFly says Velo-City was a series of tube structures that would have moved cycling off the streets and into tubes that would not only improve safety, but give riders optimal air conditions for both comfort and speed, with some estimates saying riders would travel 90% more efficiently. While the idea died at a city hall meeting, there’s no doubt other cities have taken notice and may move to bring similar projects to reality.
Hyperloop
An idea that’s getting a lot of play today is the Hyperloop. Introduced by tech revolutionary Elon Musk, Hyperloop is a futuristic idea that reinvents public transit. Instead of buses, trains, or streetcars, people could be transported by a capsule travelling in a depressurized tube powered by motors facing far less resistance than in the outside world. In theory these capsules could travel at 1,200 kilometres an hour and could not only prove valuable for city transport, but also transit between distant cities. While costly, concepts of Hyperloops have been built since the idea was introduced, but successful implementation of a Hyperloop system is still a ways off.
