forum the man group magazine 03/2013 Gridlock in large cities how to save mobility solutions for the urban world of tomorrow

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1 forum the man group magazine 03/2013 Gridlock in large cities how to save mobility solutions for the urban world of tomorrow

2 discover more of in a digital dossier on your ipad content 03/2013 DAS MAGAZIN DER MAN GRUPPE urban mobility strategies for city traffic Six-lane highways or car-free city centers? Intelligent high-speed bus networks or underground train systems? Parking lots or cycle lanes? Urban planners in cities all around the world are developing a diverse range of ideas and approaches to try and keep pace with the rising numbers of people moving around our cities. In association with the Technical University in Munich, MAN recently produced the study What Cities Want, which looked at 15 cities around the world in order to find the transport solutions of the future. The current issue of MAN Forum has taken this study as an opportunity to devote 24 pages to stories on the topic of future urban mobility solutions. This dossier is also available as an app for the ipad and offers a wide range of extras, with dynamic illustrations, multimedia content and interaction with you, our readers. Available now in your app store. Gridlock in large cities how to save mobility solutions for the urban world of tomorrow How to access your dossier: Scan the QR Code and download the app. forum the man group magazine 03/2013 section 1 man at work section 2 man think tank section 3 man projects gentlemen, start your engines Comfortable and safe: how the driver s station functions in a NEOPLAN Starliner where we are now A museum ship in Hamburg, a mobile school truck in Vietnam and a glamorous boat show in Miami: the face of MAN news News from the world of MAN in the heart of fjord and furnace A smelting plant north of the Arctic Circle runs the largest steam turbine in Norway dossier away from the Chaos 22 moving the masses How 15 cities are shaping the mobility of the future: a study from MAN and the Technical University in Munich 27 Bus on the horizon Correspondent Titus Kroder reports on the bus information system in London 28 the trailblazers Three mayors on transport strategies 29 Short cuts through Chaos How Bus Rapid Transit Systems keep urban traffic flowing 30 fifteen cities, three solutions Mobility portraits of Copenhagen, L.A. and Melbourne 33 Individual expectations What companies can learn from the What Cities Want study 34 cities are forever in flux Gebhard Wulfhorst, Professor of transport planning, on factors that impact urban mobility 35 the perfect connection Spectacular bridges 38 Mobile 2.0 Six ideas that could move us in the future 39 tales told by the city Columnist Manuel Andrack on whimsical experiences in buses and trains masthead MAN Forum the MAN Group magazine is published four times a year in German and English. published by MAN SE Andreas Lampersbach, Corporate Communications, Ungererstraße 69, Munich, Germany editors in chief Florian Wöst (resp.) Ute Hofmann, Claudia Weber Tel.: , Fax: , forum@man.eu publisher Burda Creative Group GmbH, Arabellastraße 23, Munich, Germany Tel.: , Fax: editors & authors Klaus-Peter Hilger (resp.), Vanessa Plodeck (dep.), Andrea Ackermann, Manuel Andrack, Katharina Becker, Miriam Blum, Christoph Hus, Titus Kroder, Barbara Rott, Marcus Schick international editors Patricia Preston (resp.), Asa C. Tomash, Harry Waterstone MANAgiNg editor Bojana Milankovic concept Stefan Lemle, A new kind Art director Michael Weies, A new kind Creative Director Michelle Otto graphics Micheline Pollach graphics editors Elke Latinovic, Doreen Enders, Ann-Kathrin Müller cover image Eduardo Martino/panos pictures production Wolfram Götz (resp.), Simone Bindernagel, Cornelia Sauer printing Pinsker Druck und Medien GmbH, Mainburg, Germany Printed on Galaxi Supermat reproduction permitted with reference. Any changes must be coordinated with the editors. Copyright 2013 MAN SE and Burda Creative Group GmbH Photo: APPLE INC. Pr over rough country The new TG construction vehicles with Euro VI engines demonstrate MAN s 75-year all-wheel drive competence powering up a continent More than half of Africa s population lives without electricity. Decentralized power stations can help. size matters Gigantic two-stroke engines standards 02 Masthead 03 Content 02 MANFORUM 03/ /2013 MANFORUM 03

3 1 the man at work gentlemen, start your engines Neoplan Starliner offers bus drivers a truly high-class work station: The cockpit comes equipped with a sophisticated combination of intelligent systems, which render the journey even more safe and comfortable. 01 Multi-function wheel (mfl) 04 Infotainment Head unit Drivers can operate The MAN Media telephone and vehi- Coach Advanced cle menus via the radio features a nav- push buttons on the igation system with left without remov- bus-specific map ing hands from the steering wheel. 05 material as well as a Bluetooth interface Driving speed and the distance-regu- 03 with speakerphone function accommo- lated Tempomat ACC dating up to five are controlled on separate mobile the right phones for alternating drivers. 02 Assistance systems With these controls, air conditioning the driver can acti- This operating ele- vate assistance sys- ment comprises all tems, such as the temperature-control Lane Guard System 06 functions separate and the Comfort for either the driv- Drive Suspension er s or passengers system. areas as well as for air distribution and 03 Digital tachograph (DTCo) This tachograph 06 rapid defrosting of the front window. doors stores the mandato- These two push but- ry records of driver tons serve to open and operating data and then close again on chip cards and on both swinging doors the hard drive. From to the front and rear there, data can be of the vehicle. Open- either printed out or ing the doors is not read electronically. possible unless vehicle speed falls below three kilome- Photo: MAN ters per hour. 04 MANFORUM 03/ /2013 MANFORUM 05

4 1man at work WHERE WE ARE NOW germany Salvaging a landmark Kicking off the installation of new cylinder liners aboard the Cap San Diego in February of this year required a colossal floating crane and much teamwork. For two weeks, MAN trainees worked side by side with the experienced crew to ensure the preservation of the general cargo vessel that dates back to As the world s largest seagoing museum ship s engine with its 11,650 hp needed certain units to keep running, MAN had donated three cylinder liners with a weight of two tons each and an overall value of 90,000. The Cap San Diego offers its visitors a time-travel experience back into seafaring history, says Tilman Greiner, Head of MAN Diesel & Turbo Services in Hamburg. We are pleased to contribute to the preservation of this historic and cultural landmark. The successful salvage operation enabled the ship to meet the date of the annual parade held in mid-may to celebrate the anniversary of Hamburg s harbor. Photos: Andreas Vallbracht/ MAN (3); Cap San Diego PR 06 MANFORUM 03/ /2013 MANFORUM 07

5 1 Where man at work we are now Vietnam Education on wheels Paying full attention, 30 schoolchildren are gazing at their computer screens. A young teacher patiently explains every step of the process to the children. The kids are all wearing school uniforms only a much closer look reveals that some of them have come barefoot and that this classroom is actually not a classroom at all. In reality, this structure is a converted sea container, set up by the Swiss Dariu Foundation for 12 weeks at a time as an IT teaching facility in the rural regions of the country. Trucks are needed to transport the container from one location to the next. MAN decided to donate a pre-owned truck, as our product could support a continuously successful educational project, says Yvonne Benkert, Head of Corporate Responsibility at MAN. Photos: Dariu Foundation(2),gettyimages 08 MANFORUM 03/ /2013 MANFORUM 09

6 1man at work WHERE WE ARE NOW United States Floating powerhouses Beaming down on Miami Beach, sun rays are reflected by the waters lapping at the labyrinth of landing stages. At the Yacht and Brokerage Show, white yachts of all sizes seem to compete in brilliance and brightness. Covering an area of almost a mile, this boat show takes place annually on the Intercoastal Waterway and once again drew numerous visitors to Miami Beach in February to view more than 3,000 boats shown by the 2,000 international exhibitors. Also among these presenters was MAN Engines & Components, the engine division of MAN Truck & Bus. In the newly designed floating exhibition area, the team members from Florida and Germany introduced two impressive powerhouses: the V and the V diesel engines. Julia Milbert, responsible for Marketing & Communications at MAN Engines & Components, was very satisfied with the outcome: This year s show was another outstanding success story. Our exhibit not only delighted our customers, but also attracted quite a few interested prospects. Photo: Forest Johnson 10 MANFORUM 03/ /2013 MANFORUM 11

7 1 News 03/2013 man at work ON the way FiRed Up FOR the job When Thomas Feckl (45), a fireman at the Munich airport, is called to attend a situation, it is an urgent matter: Within merely 30 seconds, he and his colleagues must leave the building in their stand-by vehicles and reach the point of action. Feckl has been with the fire brigade of Munich s airport for almost 25 years and has also served as an instructor for driving airport fire engines since As every vehicle has its idiosyncrasies, they must become a familiarity to ensure that everyone knows what to do in an emergency, he explains. No one may drive any of the trucks without prior briefing. Over the past four years, almost the entire fleet was replaced. Nowadays, a total of seven new fire engines are parked in the fire brigade building team and all of them including the one remaining model of the old fleet are based on MAN frames. One of the larger calibers features a 1,000-hp MAN SX x8 chassis and can reach speeds of 143 kilometers per hour. Quite a performance, considering that the vehicle is 12 meters long, three meters wide and almost four meters tall and weighs in at an impressive 43 tons. With its extinguishing agent mix of 12,500 liters of water and 1,500 liters of foam, it is designed to also handle bigger emergencies. Fortunately, there has not been a major incident since the airport was opened in According to statistics, such accidents occur every 30 years, says Feckl. I still have 15 years until retirement and sincerely hope that nothing happens before then. thomas Feckl is a fireman and driving instructor for airfield fire engines at the munich airport. in an emergency, he will navigate the man sx x8 with 1,000 hp and 43 tons to any hot spot in just 30 seconds. Underwater technology Framework agreements with statoil The Norwegian energy company Statoil and MAN Diesel & Turbo Schweiz AG have signed framework agreements for the delivery of turbomachinery, along with maintenance contracts for the next five years. MAN and Statoil have been working on a qualification program for underwater compression since In 2011, this cooperation resulted in an order for the construction of the world s first underwater compressors for gas production on the sea floor. efficient & RObUst man motorizes railcars of the Vlt mobile 4 class. waterproof individual compressor systems facilitate gas production even on the ocean floor. rail engines Voith orders railcar engines The drive system manufacturer has ordered 68 serial sixcylinder engines from MAN, which will be installed in light compact railcars made by the Brazil-based Bom Sinal train company. With a length of almost 60 meters, the trains are used in mass transit servicing the metro areas of Fortaleza and Recife and can transport more than 770 passengers. Photos: Alexander Ludwig (3), Øyvind Hagen/Statoil pr, VLT Mobil pr, MAN the team coach this time: borussia MöNcheNglAdbAch 01 Rolf Hülswitt Equipment manager 02 Lucien Favre Head coach 03 Frank Geideck Co-trainer 04 Manfred Stefes Co-trainer 05 Uwe Kamps Goalkeeping coach 06 Christofer Heimeroth 07 Oscar Wendt 08 Marc-André ter Stegen 09 Roel Brouwers 10 Martin Stranzl 11 Havard Nordtveit 12 Thorben Marx 13 Mike Hanke 14 Dirk Müller Physiotherapist 15 Adam Szordykowski Physiotherapist 16 Filip Daems 17 Luuk de Jong 18 Lukas Rupp 19 Julian Korb 20 Juan Arango 21 Álvaro Domínguez 22 Andreas Bluhm Physiotherapist 23 Christian Weigl Athletics trainer 24 Niklas Dams 25 Janis Blaswich 26 Alexander Ring 27 Granit Xhaka 28 Amin Younes 29 Branimir Hrgota 30 Tony Jantschke 31 Peniel Mlapa 32 Tolga Cigerci 33 Patrick Herrmann Marcus Breuer Bus driver borussia aboard In March 2013, Germany s Borussia Mönchengladbach soccer team received its new Linie 1900 team coach: The MAN Lion s Coach L boasts an impressive 480-hp engine. With a length of 13.8 meters and weighing in at 24.9 tons, the vehicle features a luxurious interior and the entire range of safety systems. These MAN buses are state of the art and offer our players an optimum in preparation before the game and proper regeneration thereafter, comments a very pleased Lucien Favre, head coach of the Gladbach team. 12 MANFORUM 03/ /2013 MANFORUM 13

8 1 news 03/2013 man at work powerful sun catcher Shams 1 comprises about 258,000 mirrors mounted on 768 parabolic collectors, which are tracking the sun. green electricity Steam turbine in the largest solar thermal power station Aptly named Shams 1, the Arabic word for sun, a 100-megawatt power plant has gone into operation in Abu Dhabi. The heart of the system is a steam turbine supplied by MAN Diesel & Turbo. Built in Oberhausen, Germany, the customized machine weighs 220 tons and is the largest MAN steam turbine ever manufactured for a solar thermal power station. Shams 1 occupies an area of 2.5 square kilometers, and will save 175,000 tons of carbon dioxide every year. Question and answer How noisy is a steam turbine? Favorable facts 2012 CR Report published The stated objective of acting responsibly as a company on a global scale is further pursued by MAN on the basis of a strategy specially developed for its Corporate Responsibility department. Published annually, the CR Report presents these successful results, among others: In 2012, this encompassed inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI), the reduction of CO 2 emissions by five percent and further development of efficient technology to curtail fuel consumption. The current 2012 CR Report is available online at under the tab named Responsibility. Of all the electricity produced worldwide, 85 percent generated by steam turbines. As many of these units are gigantic and weigh well over 100 tons, one might expect that turbines would emit noise volumes comparable to that of a jet plane. Surprisingly, they are comparatively quiet, however. At around 85 decibels, they resemble trucks in terms of loudness and can run without any further noise abatement measures. Still, those working in the vicinity of a turbine on a regular basis or for longer periods of time should wear ear protectors. When a steam turbine also runs at night near a residential area, it is encased by a walk-in sound protection hood composed of plastic and aluminum elements. This structure looks like a modern garage and reduces the noise emissions.??? Photos: shams power pr, MAN(2) MAN engines for power supply in Lebanon MAN Diesel & Turbo will deliver a total of 14 engines of the 18V48/60 model to Lebanon s state power company Electricité du Liban for two new power stations. These will be constructed in the region of Zouk and Jiyeh near the capital Beirut. Other than the engines, the order also comprises retrofitting kits for gas operation: as soon as the infrastructure for gas has been set up in the region, the engines will be configured for dual-fuel operation, which enables them to run either on liquid fuels or on gas fuels. With a total output of 272 megawatts, the new power plants will contribute to the provision of reliable power supply in the region. The Zouk and Jiyeh power plants serve as an important reference for us in the Middle East, says René Umlauft, CEO of MAN Diesel & Turbo. As Lebanon experiences a big demand to expand its energy production, the country is a very interesting partner for our Power Plants division. The two power stations will be turned over in Coal-to-liquid mega project Production of synthetic fuels in China MAN is supplying 11 turbomachinery sets for a Coal-to-Liquid plant in Yinchuan, China. Integrated in the machinery trains, the MAX1 axial compressor (image on the left) allows for the production of synthetic fuels from widely available coal resources. The applied chemical process requires large quantities of oxygen. To this end, the turbomachines will generate about 40,000 tons of oxygen every day from ambient air. fit for the future The Paris transport association RATP has opted for MAN municipal buses with a hybrid drive. Lion s city hybrid 15 urban buses for Paris Quiet and CO 2 -efficient Paris has undertaken to reduce exhaust emissions and traffic noise. In ordering 15 MAN Lion s City Hybrid buses, the Paris transport association RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens) has opted for what is currently the most CO 2 -efficient and technologically advanced municipal bus built by MAN. The bus stores the energy generated by braking in so-called ultracaps and thus derives the driving power for its two electrical engines. When stationary at bus stops, the hybrid city bus runs emission-free and can start exceptionally quietly in electrical mode. The low-floor bus with a serial hybrid drive saves up to 30 percent of fuel and thereby related CO 2 emissions when compared to a similar urban bus with diesel drive. 14 MANFORUM 03/ /2013 MANFORUM 15

9 2 dossier 03/2013 man think tank away the Innovative traffic For the Mobility in from Chaos solutions urban areas 22 Urban How large cities shape the mobility of the future and which challenges they face: a study conducted by MAN and the Technical University Munich. 29 smooth Bus Rapid Transit (or BRT) is more than just a separate bus lane: A local short-range transport concept keeps traffic flowing in large cities. 34 Variable Traffic planner Gebhard Wulfhorst has identified 29 variables that have an impact on the mobility in urban areas. From safety to car ownership. 39 Indiscreet Columnist Manuel Andrack enjoys eavesdropping on the telephone calls of perfect strangers in buses and trams. 16 MANFORUM 03/ /2013 MANFORUM 17

10 Dongtai Road, shanghai when nothing moves forward Shanghai streets are clogging up: Due to the booming economy of the metropolis, traffic volumes have exploded in the last two decades. in order To safeguard mobility, shanghai s administration seeks unconventional solutions. Photo: gettyimages 18 MANFORUM 03/ /2013 MANFORUM 19

11 Pudong District, Shanghai it takes turning a corner Photo: Viktor Lakics traffic flows freely in the dynamic business district Pudong and without any lights. widely accessible, the circular Lujiazui Pedestrian Bridge leads over the heavily trafficked main intersection and also connects office buildings, shopping centers, CafÉs, bus stops and subway stations. 20 MANFORUM 03/ /2013 MANFORUM 21

12 2 dossier 03/2013 man think tank Animations More information in your MANforum app moving THE MASSES an ever increasing number of people is BEING drawn to The CITIES of the world. this dynamic growth presents a challenge to traffic experts and urban planners. Upon arriving in the port city of beirut by land, the first thing one notices is the thick cloud of smog that blankets the Lebanese capital. This haze hangs in the narrow streets between high-rise buildings, blocking the view of the Levant coastline, and it almost never clears. Hardly surprising, as the deafening roar of traffic fills the air round the clock in this city of half a million residents. Beirut is one of the world s oldest settlements, but its traffic infrastructure is patchy: local public transport is limited to a few bus lines and is Part i the problem Practically every booming megacity has to struggle with the same mobility problems, as rapid population growth results in a steadily growing volume of traffic. Congestion not only makes life difficult for the local population, it also represents an obstacle for businesses. Motorized personal transport Cars and motorcycles dominate in the inner city. This results in congestion and pollution. Local public transport Short-range transit is underdeveloped. Connection interfaces between different systems are poor. Non-motorized personal transport Due to a lack of cycle lanes, conditions are unfavorable for cyclists and pedestrians. Illustration: Helen Gruber 22 MANFORUM 03/ /2013 MANFORUM 23

13 2 dossier 03/2013 man think tank Part II The solution All over the world, traffic planners are using similar approaches to make inner cities attractive residential areas once again. The most important factor in this regeneration is generally an efficient and well-connected local public transport system. Mobile schedule Timetables and other information accessible on smart phones. generally considered uncomfortable and unreliable. And it s no wonder, as the few buses that run are constantly delayed by heavy commuter traffic. Taxi-shares and minibuses pick up some of the slack, but pedestrians and cyclists hardly dare venture onto the congested streets. There is no passenger light rail network, and ferry services are sporadic. Given all this, Rachid Achkar s vision may seem a trifle ambitious: We want to give the city back to challenges confronting Beirut s transport planners are essentially the same as the issues concerning almost every metropolis in the world (see infographic, page 22). High population growth and with it a steady increase in traffic volume. Traffic chaos and congestion, which make life difficult for local residents and businesses. High levels of toxic pollution. Shrinking room for public areas, open spaces and parks. Urban development leading to urban Urbanization The ratio of urban population will rise sharply by In North America, almost 90 percent of people will be living in cities Percent % million inhabitants, Shanghai is the largest city featured in the survey, while Beirut is the smallest with half a million residents. European cities such as Munich, Lyon and London grow by half a percent or less per year. The millions-strong population of megacities such as São Paulo and Ahmedabad, on the other hand, increase by two to three percent annually. Melbourne has a population density of just 530 residents per square kilometer, while in Cyclists and pedestrians are both faster thanks to dedicated cycle lanes. pedestrians, says the Head of the Municipal Transport Committee. In truth, Beirut is probably the worst-case scenario for urban transport planners, sprawl. Citizen mobility habits that are highly resistant to change. Criticism of unreliable local public transport services and lack of safety for pedestrians Beirut the same area has to accommodate more than 20,000 people. Similar mechanisms as the city presents a number of unique and cyclists. Lack of public funding for And yet, however different these cities challenges. Right up to the seventies it new development projects. might be, the study shows that they Rail transport Trams and underground trains increase mobility. was considered the cultural heart of the region, a modern and lively Paris of the Middle East, before 16 years of civil war split the city into a Muslim So how do cities approach these challenges? What are transport strategists doing to shape urban mobility in the future? MAN and researchers at the are all linked by a common generic code of urban mobility (see Interview, page 34), namely a combination of shared mechanisms and mobility west and a Christian east. The war destroyed public spaces and infrastruc- Technical University in Munich joined forces to investigate these questions in Africa Asia Europe modules. Some factors are manageable, such as the structure of urban ture and some urban districts became isolated, almost autonomous islands. Since then, reconstruction has been their study What Cities Want. The same issues are being discussed everywhere: How does a city cope with the construction, traffic infrastructure and traffic volume. Others are linked in such close, complex and dynamic sabotaged by repeated outbreaks of conflict, with infrastructure being demolished time and again. Inadequate constant increase in personal car use? Which methods could be employed to reduce traffic jams and thus environ interrelationships that their impact on the overall system can scarcely be controlled. These include the social and funding and insufficient or non-exis- mental pollution? explains Kirsten economic ties between the city and its tent political structures have further Broecheler of MAN Public Affairs, who suburban surrounds, the economic, hampered development. At the same time, the city is growing dramatically, coordinated the research project. The study concluded that the strategies, 41.4 cultural and social development of the population, the political and adminis- Park-and-Ride stations ensure good connections with suburban areas. Designated bus lanes accelerate the flow of local public transport. with population figures rising by about eight percent every year. The only places in the world with a higher growth rate than Beirut are some boom towns in China. driving factors and obstacles in urban transport and mobility planning show striking similarities across the board. Fifteen cities took part in this study, namely Ahmedabad, Beirut, Bogotá, trative structure as well as the competence of the municipal government. In order to shape the mobility of the future, one must first analyze the generic codes of cities. Illustration: Helen Gruber Identical problems With its out-of-date transport infrastructure and history of civil war, the city of Beirut may seem a tragic but isolated case. However, the central Copenhagen, Johannesburg, Istanbul, London, Los Angeles, Lyon, Melbourne, Munich, St. Petersburg, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore. At first glance, there seems to be little correlation between these cities: With about Latin America & North Oceania Caribbean America Source: United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2011 Revision, 2012 And time is of the essence. Currently, half the world s population live in cities. By the year 2050, this ratio will climb to more than two-thirds: 6.3 billion people will spend their lives in an urban environment. Due to this 24 MANFORUM 03/ /2013 MANFORUM 25

14 2man think tank dossier 03/2013 MORe images in your manforum app trend towards urbanization, metropolitan areas are increasingly competing with one another. They must attract ever more people and companies in order to become true global cities, that is, international hubs of economic and cultural life. public transport is key Modern mobility solutions are an important approach for cities to remain competitive in this urban contest. The targets and strategies set by the transport planners are also astonishingly similar, as indicated by the study (see infographic, page 24). For all cities, development of a local public transport system is the top priority. This applies not only to metro areas with marked urban sprawl and a low population density, such as Melbourne, Istanbul and Johannesburg, but also to highdensity but fragmented Beirut, to Lyon with its endless traffic jams, the island state of Singapore and the commuter city of Munich. A first step and the foundation for any modern public transport network is typically the expansion of a low-emission, efficient and intelligently controlled network of buses. Numerous cities have already chosen Bus Rapid Transit (or BRT) systems, which accelerate bus services through measures including favorable traffic light sequences and designated bus lanes. While rail-based transport systems like trams and underground trains greatly improve urban mobility, they also require costly investment and vast construction projects. Establishing a safe and comfortable infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists is only possible once more people switch over to public transport. Then a complete model can be established, building park-and-ride stations and linking the mix of transport modes using smart solutions such as telematically controlled information displays and public transport network management systems. Once the most urgent mobility issues have been resolved, it will then be possible for planners to devote themselves to problems the first step in the battle with congestion is an efficient bus network. in the next five years, sales on the global bus market will rise from 58 billion to 85 billion Source: SCI Verkehr / ÖPNV aktuell, bn of euros los angeles united states Jamal Jabari, 34 reaching far beyond the needs of their own city. Big-city emissions play a considerable role in overall climate change, for example. moving ahead As the importance of international megacities for industry and residents continues to increase, local problems will likely turn into global challenges. Many metropolitan areas are already formulating ambitious goals for sustainable development, ranging as far as green mobility. The envelope is being pushed by cities where an effective administration is working together with local industry and citizens to implement and further develop its strategies. Yet even cities burdened by a massive structural legacy from the past, such as Beirut, are not condemned to remain forever in their status quo. MAN s study What Cities Want highlights which adjustments municipal and transport planners can make to ensure that traffic flow continues to move in the future. profile in short A cab driver, Jamal has worked in Los Angeles for more than a decade. What qualities does a good cab driver require? You need to know a lot of shortcuts, be patient because of all the traffic jams and have a good sense of humor. I m happy when I can make my passengers laugh. Is there a lot of demand for taxis in America? Absolutely. It has a lot to do with social status here. If you have an appointment or a date, you can t arrive by bus people will think that you re poor. Americans do love their cars, after all. Do you use public transport yourself? No, I ve actually never taken a bus in my entire life. Photo: Richard L. Duncan Sr Photos: Prisma/Lluís Real bus ON The horizon London correspondent titus Kroder Has been investigating the bus passenger information system in britain s capital. ONe joke i hear quite OFTeN on the streets of London aptly reflects the agony of waiting for a bus. People will tell you that you wait an hour for one of the famous red double deckers, and then three come along at once, bumper to bumper. This is an experience shared every day at the nearly 20,000 bus stops between Westminster, Walthamstow and Walworth. There are either way too many buses in London or far too few, as the locals like to complain. Over the past year, Transport for London (TfL), the local transport authority that serves this metropolis of tens of millions, has been trying to make that joke a thing of the past, and has done so with success: software provided by the Berlin-based company IVU.realtime now enables Londoners to check bus arrival times around the clock and anywhere in the city. We have equipped 8,500 buses with mini-transmitters that radio their location to a central TiTUs KROdeR works in London as a business journalist. He has lived in the UK capital for 13 years. server every 30 seconds, explains TfL expert Simon Reed. These massive volumes of data are filtered by the system and made available to passengers as timetable information within seconds. Departure times are indicated on the TfL website, and can be accessed via a smartphone app or viewed on the LED displays at bus stop shelters. Minute-tominute departure times are now available for the next bus from any stop, anywhere in the city. And so in the daily routine of London life, the home office or kitchen has increasingly become a waiting room. From my flat in East London s Hackney district, I catch the 149 bus every morning to get to work in the City. A quick look at tells me that a bus will be leaving from my Princess May Road stop in 13 minutes. Based on experience, it takes me around four minutes to reach the bus stop, which leaves me nine minutes before I have to leave. Plenty of time for a cup of coffee, two s and a shave. Precisely 13 minutes later, I arrive at the bus stop and the number 149 opens its doors for me. TfL has invested some 23.4 million in the system. Since its introduction, we have noticed an increase in passenger numbers, reports Reed. Interestingly enough, we register the most system hits in poor weather conditions. This is understandable, since waiting for the bus in London is particularly unpleasant in miserable outdoor conditions. Last winter, London s streets were covered with snow and slush for days, which caused mayhem in a bus network that handles 6.4 million trips daily. The demand for departure times reached record heights, says Reed. Transmitting data on 5,000 departure times per second, the new system has been up and running for only a year, but is already known to half the population of London. Around 800,000 passengers use it every day, and in light of this success story, TfL already has plans for further expansion. The next step will be to install display screens in locations such as hospitals and government offices, offering visitors and staff the opportunity to make better use of their time. And because of the clear positioning data on its vehicle fleet, what is probably Europe s largest urban transport network can now give clear answers if there happen to be too many buses piled up, bumper to bumper, that go missing elsewhere. I m in the 424 on Graham Road. Huge backup of buses. What s up? a woman recently twittered to TfL. Hello, sorry about that! Road works in Balls Pond Road are to blame, TfL tweeted right back. 26 manforum 03/ /2013 MANFORUM 27

15 2man think tank dossier 03/2013 MoRe images in your manforum app trailblazers the significance of traffic planning rises with the the size of cities. three mayors explain how they guard against infrastructural chaos. Kadir Topbaş the mayor of istanbul (68) has occupied his position since a member of the Justice and development party, he has resided in istanbul since ChRistiAN Ude at age 65, ude has been senior mayor of munich for the past two decades. prior to his election, he worked as a newspaper editor and attorney in munich. istanbul MUNiCh lyon every day, roughly 1.1 million people traverse istanbul. traffic flows are continuously growing heavier, there are 700 new registrations daily, and roads are congested. surface and underground trains, the bus system and cable railways are not yet sufficiently linked to allow for speedy progress. the traffic master plan entails a stronger expansion of rail network and roads until among the top priorities are an improved range in local public transport services as well as more traffic safety. the city intends to foster the mobility of all traffic participants and reduce travel times. as a railroad tunnel extending over a length of 13 kilometers, the marmaray tunnel is designed to connect the surface train lines in the asian and european parts of istanbul, which had previously operated separately. it will be finished, by late passengers should find it easier to combine different modes of transport. WhAt ARe the ChAlleNGes FOR traffic planning in your City? while the share of personal vehicles in city traffic is still comparatively low, the main roads still are often overloaded. during commuting times, capacities are also frequently exceeded in underground and surface trains. the cycle path network must be expanded to actually justify the claim of being germany s biking capital. modifying busy intersections ought to increase the appeal of cycling, and the planning process for new surface train lines and tram routes is under way. Bus schedules will be accelerated. we also plan to convert the inner city into a barrier-free zone, which is primarily attractive to pedestrians. new bike-and-ride spaces are planned to facilitate the change from bicycle to trains or buses. the city of munich intends to expand the track network for trams and surface trains as well as establish bus lanes and cycle paths. large parts of the inner city are already pedestrian zones and well-served by public transport. GéRARd COllOMb a founding member of the socialist party, collomb was born in 1947 in chalonsur-saône and has been serving lyon in his position as mayor since despite massive investments in local public transportation, the residents of lyon still utilize their cars for every second trip which in turn results in large traffic jams. in addition, the budget for further infrastructure expansion is already tight. it is becoming increasingly challenging to find the necessary funds. WhiCh priorities ANd GOAls ARe part OF the URbAN traffic-planning AGeNdA? to reduce congestion, the city plans a traffic system that uses smartphone technology to inform about current traffic conditions in real time. improved local public transport services should shorten travel times and enhance the mobility of residents. the city intends to mobilize even more participants for its bike-sharing program. how Will the City improve its NetWORkiNG OF public transport in the FUtURe? in the future, the optimod lyon project will be linking and processing information from the local public transport system, the traffic control center as well as the bike-sharing program. to render the combination of transport options even more attractive, passengers can access the information via smartphone mn inhabitants 1.4 mn inhabitants 1.3 mn inhabitants Illustrations: Bernd Schifferdecker, Photos: gettyimages, MAN, laif/hemis fr/b. Gardel, Paulo Fridman short cuts through chaos FRom BogoTá To São Paulo: especially In emerging CounTRIeS, CITIeS deploy express BuS SySTemS To FIghT Road CongeSTIon. Back in the early 1990s, chaos reigned supreme on the roads of Bogotá. Roughly 850,000 cars clogged the streets of Colombia s capital every day, in addition to around 21,500 buses, operated by private and municipal providers. Although 70 percent of the population relied on public transport to get around, there was no coordination of shortrange transportation services. While plans for a new subway had existed since the 1970s, the project had been shelved repeatedly for lack of funding. A different solution was direly needed to get this traffic mayhem under control. The municipal planners found an answer in the socalled Bus Rapid Transit system, or BRT. The Brazilian city of Curitiba had been the first to introduce such a system back in The BRT principle is that buses use separate and dedicated lanes in the middle of major roads. As the bus stops are elevated from street level, passengers can board the bus without steps. The bus stations are roofed over and feature glass doors that will not open unless the bus comes to a full halt. This allows for rapid and safe passenger boarding and dismounting. Today, Bogotá s BRT system comprises 11 bus lines with a total length of 87 kilometers, and represents the highest-capacity BRT system in the world. The buses are utilized by 43,000 passengers per hour. GRowinG transport needs Primarily in threshold countries, where the need for transport solutions is growing by leaps and bounds, a growing number of major cities are introducing BRT systems. In India s Ahmedebad, for instance, the BRT network already covers 85 kilometers, with further expansion in planning. South Africa s largest city, Johannesburg, introduced its Rea Vaya BRT system prior to the soccer World Cup in 2010 to facilitate quick transport of fans and spectators to the stadiums. For passengers, the two major benefits of a BRT system are comfort and speed. From the perspective of cities, other aspects also play a role: They pay attention to the make-up and structure of buses. City authorities look at factors such as passenger capacity and environmental footprint when it comes to BRT system vehicles, says Heinz Kiess, Sales Engineer at MAN Truck & Bus. Like municipalities in Israel, for instance, where MAN buses are already running in BRT networks. MAN has delivered 172 articulated bus chassis with EEV engines to Tel Aviv and Haifa. After Euro VI, the Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle (EEV) exhaust standard is the most stringent pollutant emissions guideline applicable to buses and trucks. Due to the low-floor design and a structure with four double doors, passengers can board and exit the vehicle in a particularly time-saving manner. With a length of meters and room for up to 199 seated or standing passengers, the buses also offer much capacity. In 2011, MAN tested an entirely new bus in Budapest, designed to meet the requirements of passengers as well as municipalities. The MAN Lion s City GL articulated bus also features a low floor and five instead of four doors. Thus, passengers can get on and off quickly and comfortably. The bus is air-conditioned, LED lighting and large windows provide a warm and bright ambiance and there is also plenty of space. Other than regular seating, the bus has additional folding seats. These can be locked from the driver s side whenever there are many passengers on board to create more standing room during peak periods, explains Heinz Kiess. Rapid and efficient Cheaper than rail systems, but just as effective: In Bus Rapid Transit systems, such as the one in São Paulo, passengers can cover urban distances in a time-saving and very comfortable manner. 28 MANFORUM 03/2013

16 2 dossier 03/2013 man think tank Information about all 15 cities are available in the MANforum app 15 cities, three solutions From Los Angeles on the US West coast all the way to Melbourne down under: the study What Cities Want examined the mobility needs of 15 cities. Each urban area finds a specific approach to meeting its own challenges. a portrait of Three cities. transport modes in percent How residents and visitors get around the city (number of trips) motorized individual transport 29 % public transport 44 % Cycling 1 % Walking 22 % Other 4 % COPENHAGEN plans to reduce its CO 2 emissions by 20 percent in comparison with 2005 levels. And Copenhagen aspires to be altogether CO 2 -neutral by the year transport modes in percent How residents and visitors get around the city (number of trips) The challenge: Copenhagen is a city of cyclists. The residents of Denmark s capital cover 30 percent of all their trips by bicycle. As for commutes to work or educational institutions, the figure actually rises to 36 percent which makes bicycles the most prominent mode of transport in the metropolis. While motorized individual transport amounts Los Angeles to a share of 27 percent, pedestrian traffic reaches 25 percent and local public transport 15 percent. When it comes to sustainable mobility, Copenhagen is way ahead of other cities, yet the municipal planners and transport strategists are not resting on their laurels and have set their sights on ambitious targets: By 2015, Denmark s biggest city são paulo bogotá The solution: In coming years, the significance of bicycle traffic will increase even further. The city has set a target rate of 50 percent for commuters cycling to work or their educational institutions. In order to make cycling even more attractive, 80 percent of cycle paths will comprise three lanes for each direction. Concurrently, plans are underway for new bridges and tunnels for cyclists, a green wave at traffic signals, as well as long-distance cycling routes for regional commuters the so-called cycling superhighways. Besides expanding the cycling infrastructure, Copenhagen also aims to expand the local public transport network, which includes plans for a new subway ring line. Another topic of discussion is a city toll, designed to reduce motor traffic in the inner city by 20 percent. copenhagen motorized individual transport 27 % Public transport 15 % Cycling 30 % Walking 25 % Other 3 % lyon Photos: Mads Nissen/Panos Pictures, Geoffrey Clive/Prisma SINGAPORE The challenge: As an island and city state, Singapore has an exceptionally high population density. On average, more than 7,000 people live on each square kilometer. Only one in 10 residents owns a car, which renders public transport crucial in this city of millions: Citizens make 44 percent of their trips via trains or by bus. In this context, the most important means of transport is the subway. In coming years, however, motorized individual transport will increase dramatically despite the city s restrictive registration policy. Urban planners are anticipating a 30 percent increase in road traffic by the year Existing transport systems are already reaching their capacity limits. In light of the limited geographical circumstances, expansion presents a challenge. The solution: The planners aim to improve the existing infrastructure of local public transport. Singapore has earmarked 33 billion of investment funds to double the length of the subway network in the coming decade. The sum of 660 million alone has been allocated just for new buses. There are also plans for road expansions, as much as is feasible considering the shortage of unoccupied acreage. At the same time, the city of Singapore is looking for solutions to improve traffic flow management, such as through a city toll based on actual traffic volume. And even more restrictive registration policies are designed to further curtail the ownership of personal vehicles in the future. ST. PETERSBURG singapore Munich london ISTANBUL BEIRUT

17 2 dossier 03/2013 man think tank More information and details on the What cities Want study at Melbourne the challenge: Whereas Melbourne s center is characterized by a high population density, outlying areas of the city are much less inhabited. As a result, car traffic plays a vastly important role in this Australian city of millions. In the Melbourne metropolitan region, residents use the car for 75 percent of the trips they make which is also due to heavy commuter traffic. Every day, 400,000 working people drive from the suburbs into the city. Between now and 2030, the number of jobs is expected to rise by 100,000, which will result in a dramatic increase of commuter traffic. Outlooks predict a growth rate of about 50 percent until the year The city plans to cope with the additional traffic to avoid a negative impact on the quality of life in Melbourne. ahmedabad Johannesburg the solution: Melbourne aspires to become much less dependent on car transport in the future. Until 2030, the number of trips that its citizens make by car is targeted for a 30 percent reduction. The city intends to encourage commuters to switch to local public transport, use bicycles or walk. This effort means that local public transport facilities must be made more attractive. The planners will significantly raise the frequency of metropolitan rail services, while expanding the tram network and modernizing stops. In addition, there are also plans for extending the cycling path network and the bike sharing system. Urban planning is also lining up behind these new guidelines: In the future, new residential districts will be built in such a way as to have easy access to local public transport facilities. shanghai transport Modes in percent how residents and visitors get around the city (number of trips) motorized individual traffic 75 % public transport 9 % cycling 2 % Walking 13 % other 1 % Melbourne shanghai china pan haixiao, 51 Professor of Urban Planning, Tongji University How does a mobility strategy become a reality? Many institutions participate in our projects. The Shanghai Urban Transport Bureau coordinates the interaction between urban planning, the transport department, traffic police and the construction companies. What are your most important goals for Shanghai? The share of public transport usage ought to grow from its current 25 percent to 30 or 35 percent. How will you achieve this? Not only are there are plans for a new subway line of more than 400 kilometers, but the number of parking facilities in the inner city should actually be reduced. profile in short Photos: gettyimages, imaginechina/zhou Junxiang Photo: MAN individual expectations to better manage ever growing traffic volumes, cities are developing new transport strategies. companies can benefit from these ideas for future product development. two-thirds of the world s population will be living in cities by the year Rampant population growth creates new challenges for urban areas, and mobility plays a crucial role in this regard. The findings of the What Cities Want study have significant implications for MAN s bus sector: All queried metro areas taking part in the study place a major emphasis on local public transport when it comes to prospective transport strategies. In the future, attractive local public transport services will become a more important factor for every city, says Jörg Willert, Head of Bus Engineering at MAN Truck & Bus. For with rising appeal of public transport services, more people should be willing to switch over. As highly flexible means of transport, buses in particular are very popular, emphasizes Willert. Environmental conservation and the reduction of exhaust emissions are also at the top of the municipal agenda. Cities need more environmentally friendly buses, says Olaf Meyer, Head of Bus Product Management & Strategy at MAN Truck & Bus. They must meet very stringent environmental standards. A positive environmental balance is also a question of image. Cities therefore place value on buses with low CO 2 emissions. positive environ- MeNtAl balance is an image issue which motivates metro areas like paris to opt for co 2 - efficient buses, such as the man lion s city hybrid. the hybrid bus converts braking energy into drive power, which is ideal for the stopand-go patterns of urban traffic. Already, municipal buses of the Lion s City class comply with the strictest EU exhaust standard to date, the Euro VI. Yet MAN will go even further in adapting to the requirements of customers in the future. Alternative drives are another area where we are doing a lot of work, explains Meyer. Along with natural gas drives, which have been part of MAN s product range for decades already, another alternative has been available since 2010: The Lion s City Hybrid, which runs on electrical power. The bus stores the energy released by the brakes to drive the electric motors, reducing fuel consumption by as much as 30 percent. Furthermore, the growing number of people also places higher demands on the capacity of municipal buses. In the future, we anticipate even greater demand for buses with more standing than seating room, says Frank Krämer, Key Account Manager for Local Public Transport at MAN Truck & Bus. All over the world, the vehicles need the capacity to carry large numbers of people. Especially in emerging nations, municipalities focus on much room for many passengers, adds Krämer. That picture is a rather different one in industrial countries, as cities there focus primarily on buses with much comfort to lure commuters into switching to buses. Notwithstanding all their common transport planning goals, every city has its own priorities and therefore places different expectations on public transport means. The product range of MAN must meet these individual preferences, explains Krämer. Thus, he says, the study results offer valuable insights into the expansion of different product lines. 03/2013 MANFORUM 33

18 2man think tank dossier 03/2013 Cities ARe FOReveR in FlUx For the study What Cities Want, ProFessor Gebhard WulFhorst investigated different FaCtors that affect mobility in urban areas. Professor Wulfhorst, does your study reveal the perfect mobility concept for the metropolitan areas of this world? There is no such thing, actually, as every city is totally unique. When architects speak of the genius loci, they are referring to the distinctive spirit of a city, which consists of many different elements. If we remove just one of these building blocks, the city would no longer be the same. Therefore, we did not set out in search of a unified mobility blueprint that could be simply applied to just any city. Instead, we were looking for individual components whose complex interactions have formative implications for urban mobility: the generic code of mobility, as it were. And how do urban planners benefit from recognizing these individual variables? Just small changes in the individual mobility elements can trigger dynamic effects that will change the entire system. The study proves very clearly: Every city has its own and unmistakable character, yet the single building blocks, their relationships PROFessOR GebhARd WUlFhORst is head of the department of urban structure and transport Planning at the technical university munich. For the study What Cities Want, he and his team worked with 15 urban and transport planners from around the world, as well as with experts from different industrial sectors, to identify variables that act as a generic code to affect mobility in urban areas. and effective mechanisms, are comparable. Sometimes the significance of single variables escapes a first impression but they are still present in every city and definitely are influential factors in terms of mobility. Can you explain that in the light of an example? How residents feel about safety is a very influential factor for urban mobility. This perception is one of 29 variables that we have identified. If people don t feel safe on sidewalks or are afraid for their lives when walking to the subway, they will refrain from using these services no matter how modern, rapid and punctual the underground is or how nicely paved the sidewalk looks. In a city such as Munich, the safety of the local public transport network hardly seems an issue. People are more likely to discuss congestion suffered by the heavily used metropolitan rail network. Yet if Munich s residents didn t feel safe in public areas, they would no longer use this mode of transport as frequently and resort to taking the car more often. This shows that the safety factor does also play a major role in Munich, even if indirectly. Other crucial influential variables would be the geographical layout of the city, for instance, the average length of trips or the degree of private car ownership. So an optimization strategy for mobility concepts merely requires the perfect adjustment of all those external cornerstones? It s not about reaching an optimized final status in terms of mobility. Cities are very complex and dynamic systems that are always in flux and constantly reinventing themselves. Thus, mobility must continue adapting to repeatedly changing requirements. Our study not only offers suggestions as to which aspects the process urban planners and transport strategists should watch out for, but also shows that it depends on much conscious decision-making focused on details in order to shape a sustainable mobility system for the future. Photos: Vuk Latinovic, Nieves Mares Pagán/iStockphoto Fotocredit: ireland harmony of strings The Samuel Beckett Bridge in Dublin is dedicated to one of Ireland s most famous authors. Spanning the river Liffey, this steel structure is designed to echo the form of a harp, and so combines two beloved symbols of the Emerald Isle in one impressive monument. And it has a hidden highlight: The bridge is anchored on a revolving concrete base and can be rotated through 90 degrees to allow ships to pass. the perfect connection They link vital TransporT arteries, soar over water and sometimes even appear To defy gravity: a gallery of outstanding bridges around The world. 34 MANFORUM 03/ /2013 MAnforUM 35

19 2man think tank dossier 03/2013 Thailand Giant rings The Bhumibol Bridge crosses the vast Chao Phraya river in Bangkok. It forms part of the planned Industrial Ring Road, which will connect the industrial area in the province of Samut Prakarn with the Port of Bangkok, and greatly simplify freight transport operations. Also known to locals as The Mega Bridge, the sinuous curves of the access roads offer an intriguing contrast to the tall power of its gigantic cable-stayed pylons. Brazil Presidential arches The Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge is named after the Brazilian president who instigated the construction of Brasilia in the 1950s as the country s new capital. With its spaced-out, asymmetrical steel arches, the structure links the southern districts of São Sebastião and Paranoá with the original urban district of Brasilia, Plano Piloto and its central transport axis, the Eixo Monumental. Italy A bridge across time Venice has more than 400 bridges, with four of them alone crossing the Grand Canal, the city s main transport artery. One of these is the Ponte della Costituzione, named in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Italian constitution. This pedestrian bridge links the Santa Lucia rail station with the Piazzale Roma. It symbolizes modern Venice and yet blends in elegantly with the ancient town. Spain A work of art In Valencia, the Monteolivete Bridge runs across the Turia river directly to the heart of the Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias, the City of Arts and Sciences. It includes an opera house, planetarium, museum and aquarium. The architect Santiago Calatrava designed the complex to work as a coordinated ensemble. United Arab Emirates Steel dunes The Sheikh Zayed Bridge carries traffic in both directions on a four-lane highway connecting Abu Dhabi with the mainland. At its highest point, the steel support structure towers more than 60 meters above the water below. The flowing curves of the arches evoke imagery of the undulating dunes in the Arabian desert. Inaugurated in November 2010 after eight years of construction, the bridge was designed by British-Iraqui architect Zaha Hadid. Photos: shutterstock, Tips-Masci/Bildagentur-online, Alamy/mauritius images content, Pixtal/mauritius images content, Franziska Richter/iStockfoto; gettyimages, F1online, Jean-Pierre Lescourret/Corbis, Hykal Free Lance Photographic Collection Gleaming DNA Made of a mix of stainless steel and glass and featuring LED lighting, the Helix Bridge on the Marina Bay in Singapore comes into its own at night, when it lights up like a giant chunk of glowing DNA. This pedestrian bridge connects the cultural, leisure and entertainment attractions of this city district. Germany Slinky link Like an oversized child s toy in brightly gleaming colors, the bridge Slinky Springs to Fame coils over the Rhine-Herne Canal in Oberhausen. Locals call it the Rehberger Bridge, after the architect who designed it. Extending over a length of 460 meters, it connects the Kaisergarten park in Oberhausen with Emscher Island, home to the stadium of the Oberhausen Red and White soccer club. In keeping with the toyinspired esthetic, its elastic surfacing and spiral design make crossing this work of art a rather bouncy and uplifting experience. France Head above the clouds The gigantic columns of the Millau viaduct in the south of France soar to 343 meters above the Tarn valley near Montpellier. Before the 400 million cable-stayed bridge was built, traffic regularly ground to a halt here at the start of vacation season. The bridge was designed by architect Sir Norman Foster. High tension The Kurilpa Bridge in Brisbane is the largest bridge in the world to be designed according to the so-called tensegrity principle. The solid support structures of this pedestrian and cyclist bridge across the Brisbane river are linked through tension cables, and maintain their own stability as a result of tension and pressure. 36 MANFORUM 03/ /2013 MANFORUM 37

20 2 dossier 03/2013 man think tank MORe images in your manforum app MANUel ANdRAck ReAds Audio in your MAnforum app MObile 2.0 GrowinG cities call for creative mobility solutions: six ideas to move us in the future, ranging from innovative to quirky. tales told by the city They ARe NiMble, environmentally friendly and can carry loads from 50 to 180 kilograms. Congested roads are also not an obstacle. Especially the last mile in citycenter deliveries is the perfect stage for exceptionally efficient electrical cargo bikes. Take the ibullitt cargo bike featured by the Urban-e transport company in Berlin: 30 cycles can replace up to 20 passenger cars and are especially cost-effective to purchase and operate. The Chinese automotive company Chery also intends to deploy its vehicle to simplify road traffic, hence making it more efficient. The cars recognize one another and dock when traveling on the same route to save time and space for other vehicles. Google also has ideas for the PAckhORses ON wheels saving energy and money, versatile and perfectly suited for city-center transport due to their maneuverability: the ibullitt electric cargo bike operated by the urban-e company in berlin. future: In three US states, the Internet giant has received a testing license for computer-controlled cars. Its vision: no more accidents, and seamlessly flowing traffic. One practical invention for future infrastructures comes from Dutchman Erik Schlangen. His solution for road damages caused by heavy use is called Self Healing Asphalt. When heating the steel wool incorporated in the road surface, the asphalt melts and mends cracks as if by magic. For years, drivers have been able to save money and do something green st. PeTeRsbURg RUssiA sergei cherepanov, 38 by offering their vehicles through carsharing programs. The car sharing platform tamyca.de has now developed an app that enables mobile searches for a suitable loan car in the vicinity even when on the road. Also interesting is the idea developed by Australian inventor Geoffrey Barnett: His cycle cable car Shweeb would have passengers soar above the streets in transparent capsules, traveling at speeds of up to 90 kilometers per hour on their way from A to B. So far, the cable car operates only in a New Zealand leisure park. PROFile in short The executive director of Inter Yacht Service operates two of St. Petersburg s four water taxi lines. Why does St. Petersburg need water taxis? The city is struggling with traffic congestion. Water taxis save time. In the case of some trips, traveling on land will take twice as long. How many people can you carry? We have 16 boats with 12 seats each. This year, for the first time, we will operate four boats with 36 seats each. Who uses water taxis? Businesspeople, workers and also tourists a cheaper alternative to the expensive boat tours. Photos: ibullitt pr, Pauline Tillmann; Hans Georg Merkel MeRely AN elegant whoosh behind me signals the closing of doors. We depart on time not always the case. And yet, we as public-transport veterans know that delays are the exception rather than the rule. Apparently, just the more sporadic passengers must forever endure those community transport disasters we hear about the buttered side down theory we know as Murphy s Law. Utterly relaxed, I peruse the sports section of my newspaper. It s a Monday, and the Cologne soccer team has scored a victory. Thus, I am obliged to devour every line composed at the occasion of this glorious win. It is quite fortunate that I recently moved to the outskirts of town and can therefore enjoy a full halfhour commuting time into the inner city. Such reading enjoyment would be out of the question if driving scanning the paper while clutching the wheel has proven rather impractical in the past. When I am finished with the sports section, I smile and close my A column by MAnuel AndRAck eyes, dreaming of a championship for my Cologne kickers. Some time later, a soft jerk wakes me from my brief slumber. While I ve been told that taking five-minute power naps in the car may result in unfortunate consequences provided that you are the driver a little snoozing is part of the tram program. Then a sudden epiphany hits me. This is the perfect solution for that problematic meeting tomorrow! Worthy of Nobel Prize consideration, this idea is immortalized on a little piece of paper. As the most brilliant insights are born aboard trams, it should not come as a surprise that passenger numbers have risen steadily over the years in our land of poets and thinkers. Rays of sunlight caress the windowpanes, and I am eavesdropping on a young lady, who very energetically speaks into her cell phone. If I overhear correctly, she s currently breaking up with her boyfriend. Whoa, that was a bad word she just used, I hadn t heard that one before. Better remember it. I find it rather entertaining how fellow passengers conduct their most intimate communication on mobile phones while aboard buses or trains. Solemn declarations of love and devotion, marital strife, eulogies: All this holds never-ending fascination for me, proving that life itself is fiction. Oh, my, another classy insult dripping from the lips of that gorgeous and just very recently single-again female. Enough spying. I dig headphones into my ears, listening to the soothing sounds of the German band Tocotronic. Sure, it s perfectly possible to also enjoy music while driving, yet never as feasible to observe the landscape to such an extensive degree. One stop before Cologne Central, another tram stops alongside, headed in the other direction. I observe a couple that first exchanges adoring glances, then embraces tenderly and finally embarks on some serious smooching. I imagine that they had just met 10 minutes before in that tram, with immediate infatuation sparking between them. Love at first sight. Is there a more romantic place to meet than on a tram? In the company of others, yet still somewhat safely ensconced under a bell jar of one s own. I get off, thoroughly refreshed, prepared for the day. And already pleasant anticipating the ride back home. NOthiNg is quite As entertaining as a ride on public transport. And no one knows this better than Manuel Andrack, who finally passed his driver s license exam at the proud age of 45. Risen to fame as the sidekick and editorial manager of German comedian and satirist Harald Schmidt and his late-night show, the journalist now pursues his career as a moderator and book author. 38 MANFORUM 03/ /2013 MANFORUM 39