Read New Years Resolution: Solve Americas Biggest Problem, End up Bitter and Cynical Page 6
Dumb.
I Need a Miracle, Every Day
As the sun rose over Washington D.C. a better idea lit up my brain, like the eye above the pyramid. A human powered light rail system would cheaper to build, healthier to use, and get people out of their cars, to ride the CycleTrain.
A bicycle train on a single rail was designed and patented a hundred years ago as a prototype for mass transit. The electric trolley lines killed it as an option, before it got built. It was before its time like so many great ideas, but the new, improved CycleTrain is right on time for solving the problems of traffic, obesity and health care costs.
CycleTrains will be powered by the riders, pedaling from a comfortable seat, teams of cyclist/commuters twiddling along, linked together to power the train, gliding along on a rail. With wind faring and a motor assist to get up to speed or for hills, they could hit speeds of 50-60 mph easily, a lot faster with a little maglev.
Trained bus drivers and other government workers could captain them, taking an exercise shift at the helm a few times a week. All the benefits of cycling- cardiovascular fitness, weight loss, reduced health care costs, recreation and transportation, with none of the drawbacks- traffic, steering, crashing.
Elevated CycleTrains could run across or along highways, above traffic noise and dirt and aggressive road warriors. Building these monorails would cost a fraction of "light rail" estimates. (note: half is a fraction.) They'd cost little to run. Quiet, emission free, built above existing right of way or carve out new routes with half the right of way.
As we pulled into the capitol's downtown bus station, I had gotten through my dark night of the soul, once again. I was back to my old, self congratulatory self. Solved another Really Huge Problem. This wasn't so hard after all.
Now to sell these concepts. Make my fortune with the magic beans. I began walking towards the Bike Summit convention when I realized what a fool I'd been. These ideas weren't going to fly at a society of bike safety professionals. It would put them out of business.
Maybe I could use my press pass to get into the White House presidential briefing. Jeff Gannon has gone to an undisclosed location and left a hole in the toady line. I don't know if I can fill all his roles, but to take the heat off the pres, I'll suddenly announce my SafetyCycle/Train projects. See where that gets me.
Passing by the Chinese Embassy gave me pause. The Chinese were crazy about cycling until they went pink. I knocked on their door and made my sales pitch. Turns out the only thing they want from Americans are nukular secrets. I told 'em I'd see what Wal-Mart's had.