The LA Metro, at least the Santa Monica line, has cars not much bigger than trams, but it lacks the disadvantages of trams (which aren’t mentioned in this article), which is that the share the roads with cars and their associated traffic jams and inevitable collisions.
I thought the main cause of jams and collisions were cars. One of the pleasures of living in Tokyo and other big cities is that public transportation is so good that you don’t need a car.
Traffic and collisions are from cars, which is why it’s not great to have the trams share the road and intersections with them. I think the trams, particularly in Kagoshima, Nagasaki and Hiroshima are quaint and charming, but they would be faster and safer if they were underground like the Fukuoka subway or elevated like the Yamanote or Yurikamome in Tokyo.
Interesting. I remember reading that LA had one of the most (the most?) extensive tram systems in the world. Is the Santa Monica line extensive enough to replace that?
The LA metro is faster than going by car, but is not extensive. It has elevated and underground sections (like in downtown and Hollywood) and many runs along roadways, but with not as many crossings or intersections like trams, which would slow it down and cause more traffic congestion. Ridership is not high, because many riders are just using it as a moving homeless shelter and it doesn’t feel safe, and it is slow to expand, it may actually connect to LAX (both the metro and airport seem to be in constant slow motion construction for the longest time)
Fond memories of growing up in Yokohama and riding the trolley everywhere in the late 60’s to early 70’s. Bring them back!
Thank you for sharing that Glennis! Appreciate the kind words with the subscription too
Looking forward to seeing more streetcars in Tokyo! We could use dedicated cycling paths, too…
I wonder if LA would reconsider?
The LA Metro, at least the Santa Monica line, has cars not much bigger than trams, but it lacks the disadvantages of trams (which aren’t mentioned in this article), which is that the share the roads with cars and their associated traffic jams and inevitable collisions.
I thought the main cause of jams and collisions were cars. One of the pleasures of living in Tokyo and other big cities is that public transportation is so good that you don’t need a car.
Traffic and collisions are from cars, which is why it’s not great to have the trams share the road and intersections with them. I think the trams, particularly in Kagoshima, Nagasaki and Hiroshima are quaint and charming, but they would be faster and safer if they were underground like the Fukuoka subway or elevated like the Yamanote or Yurikamome in Tokyo.
Interesting. I remember reading that LA had one of the most (the most?) extensive tram systems in the world. Is the Santa Monica line extensive enough to replace that?
This reminds me of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and the whole tram conspiracy then
The LA metro is faster than going by car, but is not extensive. It has elevated and underground sections (like in downtown and Hollywood) and many runs along roadways, but with not as many crossings or intersections like trams, which would slow it down and cause more traffic congestion. Ridership is not high, because many riders are just using it as a moving homeless shelter and it doesn’t feel safe, and it is slow to expand, it may actually connect to LAX (both the metro and airport seem to be in constant slow motion construction for the longest time)
> The carriages are still from the 1950s,
Umm, the Toei 8900 series would like a word. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toei_8900_series