Today's post is the second installment of my series Taming The Lagos Traffic Monster which has received widespread readership and accolades. It has
been a Thought Leadership discussion on a subject that disturbs every Lagosian
or anyone in a growing city- Urban Commuting or Transportation and how
innovation is or can help make life a lot easier and fun despite the
challenges. Already we have discussed the term in general and its grave health
impacts on our lives. Now we continue with the expose on Real Innovative
products and service for a smoother Urban Transportation, after that we will
show how you can take advantage of them and then try to offer other creative
tips on effective and healthy commuting habits.
There are so many
products and service out there but we have picked the best and the most effective
for you. Some of the new commuting Innovations and tools we have recommended
are for you the individual while some are for governments at all levels to
adopt, there include:
- Bike
- Cable Car
- Motorbikes or Scooters
- Bus-trains
- Bus Rapid Transportation
- PRT-Personal Rapid Transit
- GPS
- Google Map
- Tango
- Mobile Apps
- Ride Sharing
- Electric Vehicles(cars and bikes)
- Monorails
- Google Car
- Adopt Smart Mobile Lifestyle
Since these are just
tools, lets us now discuss how they can help you enjoy a more effective daily
movement.
Bikes:
Bikes are tough to
beat in terms of the unique fit for urban transportation: They're reliable,
emissions-free, small, healthy, and cheap to operate. Check out our best pick.
Fuel-efficient
vehicles are great. Driving less is even better. We're big bicycle fans here.
Bikes are tough to beat in terms of urban transportation: they're reliable,
emissions-free, take up very little parking space, and cost almost nothing to
operate. Depending on your commute or the length of your errand, it's possible
that a bicycle will get you where you're going faster than an automobile. And
they're great for your health. I enjoy seeing doctors in some movie drive bites
to work instead of cars or even train.
As example of an
innovative bike is The MINI Folding Bike
The MINI Folding bike
was designed specifically to complement even the smallest car and will also be
great for your car. Like its automobile cousin, the bike is small and highly
maneuverable, in addition to being lightweight, and of course, the MINI folds
up small enough to fit in the trunk of car.
The Tango
The revolutionary
Tango (very mini sport car) combines the speed and agility of a motorcycle with
the security of a high-performance sports car.
Tango lets you trade
your boredom for freedom with its ability to maneuver through traffic which is
second to none. Being 5" narrower than many motorcycles, it can get
through traffic like no other car in history. Where lane splitting is permitted
(i.e., driving between lanes of stopped or slow-moving traffic), the advantage
can be staggering. In extremely heavy traffic, a Tango or motorcycle can travel
in 20 seconds the distance that cars travel in 20 minutes.
Help forge a
congestion-free future
The Tango can fit in a
6-foot half-lane with more clearance than a truck has in a full 12-foot freeway
lane. This virtual doubling of lane capacity can make the traffic jam a fading
memory. It can also park perpendicularly to the curb like a motorcycle,
allowing up to four Tangos in one parallel parking space.
The Futuristic Urban
Gondolas-Cable Car
This An
Efficient,Fast, And Safe Public Transitfor our government to adopt. In Lagos,
they could be placed on both sides of the third mainland bridge to move people
from one side to the other.
The urban gondolas
project is an urban cable propelled transit (CPT) concept that can offer a
fast, safe, clean, fun, inexpensive and reliable alternative for in-city
traveling. The huge infrastructure eliminates the need of schedule by including
enough vehicles to support less-than-one-minute wait time. The cable transit is
equal or faster than subways, light rail, streetcars and buses, using less
energy than those and is completely emission free. The installation process has
been designed up to 25 –
75% cost-effectively and is safer than any other forms of urban commuting. The
fully automated transit can carry twice the number of people that current cable
transits are carrying with more fun and flexibility.
Smart Urban Commuting
Tools
Google Maps
Most of us waste time
and energy in frustration when looking for a new address within the city. A
good mapping service combined with GPS navigation as available in some
Smartphones and cars can make the journey alot easier and even fun. Google Maps
is an urban commuter's delight especially business road warriors.
GPS
Global Positioning
System. A satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24
satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS was
originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s, the government
made the system available for civilian use.
GPS Navigation devices
Samsung GPS Support
The Samsung Galaxy
Smartphones and all subsequently released models use GPS navigation -- or which
in basic terms accesses an intermediary server when it is not possible to
connect directly via satellite -- indoors, for example -- and this server provides
the nearest satellite with additional information to make it possible to more
accurately determine a users position.
Mobile Apps
As a new rash of
mobile applications are making transportation easier (and quicker) for
residents in big urban cities all over the world, these Mobile Apps,
sophisticated softwares inside Smartphone allow users to access urban commuting
intelligence such as bus and train schedules, real time traffic updates and
emergency services from Internet-accessible phones. The apps, which are
available on Samsung Smartphones and other wireless devices, also give
real-time updates on when buses and trains will actually arrive.
An example of such
application is MyCityWay android app
MyCityWay is a real
time app designed to transform your hand held device into a mega-
utility tool for
navigating the urban scene. By combining urban reference apps and platforms
with vital urban information, MyCityWay helps you pilot and explore the world's
cities like never before. Use MyCityWay to find a restaurant in your
neighborhood, locate the nearest wireless hotspot, or buy tickets for the next
showing of a blockbuster movie. Connect with other users to find the perfect
lunch spot, keep tabs on apartments for rent, or check live traffic feeds before
leaving your home or office.
Innovation Quote
Good urban commuting tips: 2 minutes
In the end, having an
effective and smoother urban commute can sometimes be just like most other
things in our lives, all we may just need to do is change our priorities,
habits and lifestyle choices for a healthier life. But that’s easier said that
done. Just like a dear friend who prefers to buy new clothes than learn to
wash. For those who are interested, here are a few tips to make your daily
commute easier, faster, less stressful and fun.
- Leave early for your destination
- Plan your trip well and know your destination; use map if possible.
- Stay up to minute with traffic and weather information
- Top up your petrol tank to avoid frequent stops
- Work closer to your spouse if you cannot work close to home
- Always take a known route especially at night
- Take public transport such as BRT in case of serious traffic jam; this way you can always alight and take a different mode of transport easily.
- Have a mini-bike in your booth for emergencies
- Play some nice music to relax
- and repair your AC if broken.
It is said, that there
are over 2 million cars in Lagos alone, people love cars and will continue to
do so. As a closing gift, we give you the 2012 Best Urban Commuting Cars as
compiled by Forbes.
Remember that as a general
rule, to be effective in urban movement, you must be honest about the
particularities of your own transport needs and diligent enough to research
which vehicle best fits that lifestyle. At the very least you'll need something
spacious enough for comfort, efficient enough for decent petrol mileage and
durable enough to withstand the inevitable fender-bender. Do these and you
won't be alone.
Here are the nine cars
(in no particular order):
1. Ford Fusion Hybrid
MSRP: $28,700
2. Toyota Highlander
Hybrid
MSRP: $38,540
3. Lexus CT 200h
MSRP: $29,120
4. Scion xD
MSRP: $16,075
5. Chevrolet Volt
MSRP: $39,145
6. Honda Fit
MSRP: $15,175
7. Toyota Prius V
MSRP: $26,400
8. Subaru Forester
MSRP: $20,595
9. Toyota RAV4
MSRP: $22,475
Wow, Wow, Wow.
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