How about a tram like  electric bus with open door so that any time one can board and get down. This vehicle can be used for a particular destination like city bus but the speed of the green bus will be like a tram.

Hope this will solve short distance travelers problem and is also viable project if implemented.

Hi Guys,

           I would like to propose a sustainable transport medium like a small -truck size , vehicle with the mechanism of golf cart , driven by electricity stationed at  places where the commute by road is done by hundreds of people in an area like a bus station or railway station in India. I would call the vehicle ARC-0409

         These public hubs have not been designed keeping the efficency and design factor in mind with respect to the commuting done by people on road and also the ever increasing fleet of buses , big, small and auto-rikshaws.

      I got the idea yesterday (26-04-09 )cause daily I board a bus from 700 mtrs from my office , once I get down at the bus station I need to walk 1 to 2 km to get to the other part of the station to board a bus to my area where I reside. And while doing so there are 2 to 3 traffic jams(due to peak hours), so I am standing for nearly 5 to 7 mts, or trying to squeeze between two buses or scooters. I saw a huge problem and have an out of the box solution.

My idea of transport :-
1> An electric mid size vehicle(ARC-0409) .
2>Has a solar panel to tap the solar power abundant in India.
3> The vehicle will have a fixed route and range of commute.(2 to 3 kms), would go forth and back.
4>Having Charging stations at relevant positioning points along the route.
5>Extra energy generated by solar panels can be passed on the existing electric grid, or used to have battery back up, to drive the vehicle during evening times.
6>Baring a few seating arrangement for very old and disabled people , there would be standing arrangement as the commute is for short distances.
7>Charge a minimum 1 or 2 rupees(Indian Currency) for each commute by a passenger.
8>Have fixed points of stoppages.
9>The vehicle should have a door system which will open only when the fixed stoppage point is reached.
10> There is system of ticket colelctor collecting tickets from passengers anf giving them a ticket, if we can have a smart card to provide an alternative solution to the ticket collection system/payment system it would be great. (Guys give me more inputs on this).

Pros :-
1> There would be less number of people on roads near these hubs walking in large groups , criss crossing each other and also the road.
2>Less road blockages.
3> Public tranportation hubs in India are very poorly designed and maintained.
4>If people regularly follow this medium of transport 
    >They can cross a distance in less time, more efficiently .
    > If they have luggage they need not carry them all the way.
    > Commuting will be less stressfull for these short distances.
5>A good alternative to the exising auto-rikhshaws(3 wheeler demons) which do not follow any traffic rules(especially in Hyderabad), criss-cross in the middle of road, very rash driving by most of the drivers of these vehicles.
6>Zero percent carbon emission as the vehicle is ELECTRIC.

Cons:-
1> For mass production need to tie up with an auto manufacturing firm who has background of building electric vehicles.
2> The vehicle would be slower than the existing medium(I am not sure about this).
3> Selling the idea to the Tranport Department.
4>Resistance from the Auto-Rikhsaw union.
5> Need to have a Garage system for parking these vehicled during night times , as they might get stolen or even damaged by anti-social elements.
6>Garage system is non-existend for public transport vehicles.
7>Capital Intensive.

Any kind of support and feedback would be highly appreciated.

Regards,
Abhishek
(iDEAhamster)