How do you see transportation changing in America in the next fifty years?

1. 81

   Wayne Brownposted 14 years ago

   How do you see transportation changing in America in the next fifty years?

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   1. 86

      gmwilliamsposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      There will be faster trains i.e. trains going from New York to Los Angeles in a span of 20-30 minutes.   There will be more public transportation in order to curb excessive air pollutions caused by cars.  There will be airplanes which go to Europe in a span of a hour as well as Asia.   There will be underwater tunnels in which trains can easily travel from America to Europe in under an hour.

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2. 67

   billyaustindillonposted 14 years ago

   I think it depends on how we get through the next few years with roads and infrastructure failing as it is. I think people will become more locked in their cities through necessity or otherwise so a movement to more like Paris with mass transport, walking and then renting cars etc when you need one.
   
   Also a move towards natural gas - LPG for example to run buses, taxis and cars. Fuel efficiency will help - the reality is we are a long way from bio fuels in a large scale.

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3. 59

   x3kat88posted 14 years ago

   I can't see anymore flyingcars as a safe-future-transportation because everyone would be afraid of the suicidal cars and religious people who says that (Killing people) it was an act for God. I would like to see cars that work with water or cars more efficient that does not need a lot of gas... economically... gas is getting more expensive every year a quarter or dollar more.

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   bluedreamsposted 14 years ago

   I see more public transport services and less private cars.

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      gmwilliamsposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      +1000000000000000000000000

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5. 0

   Ms. Nomadicaposted 14 years ago

   I think this question is particularly relevant given the situation in Egypt right now. I'm hearing that one fairly likely consequence of such major Mid East turmoil is $5 a gallon gas prices in the U.S., and that's a full dollar a gallon over what has previously been accepted as a tipping point in this country.
   
   When gas prices in America hit $4 a gallon, people changed their driving habits dramatically. At the same time, the airlines began adding extra fees that were supposedly due to the higher fuel costs. However, the gas prices eventually went down and, instead of dropping the fees, airlines started adding MORE fees.
   
   There is a general dissatisfaction growing amongst the general public toward airlines because of all the new fees. If gas prices do indeed reach $5 a gallon on top of all that, then I believe we will see the first serious move toward efficient rail service in the U.S. in several decades. Additionally, there may be a quicker move toward more energy efficient automobiles than we've ever seen before.
   
   So I believe that we are now getting closer to reaching critical mass in a change of attitude toward transportation here. Unfortunately, many cities may be slower in ramping up their public transportation services just because of the economy's recent effect on their finances.
   
   But fifty years from now, I expect to see many more destinations available by high speed efficient rail service, more people using public transportation and many more fuel efficient automobiles on the road all over the country.
   
   As far as airlines, I believe there will be far fewer than there are now, and the ones still in business will be those who manage to please their customers while maintaining the bottom line. Southwest will probably be the role model, since they operate the greatest number of flights and manage to remain profitable without charging extra for what used to be considered normal baggage.
   
   It all comes down to how much people are willing to pay before they start to rebel.

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6. 61

   dingdondingdonposted 14 years ago

   If we don't get the hoverboards I was promised by Back to the Future soon I'm going to be quite miffed.

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7. 61

   Bronson_Hubposted 14 years ago

   Something involving camels, mules, horses, or maybe even elephants if those aren't extinct. 
   
   This assumes a post-apocalyptic scenario in which one of the current national superpowers pressed the "launch nuclear strike" button.

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8. 60

   Windsweptplainsposted 14 years ago

   I would love to see most cars run on electricity, that is my more realistic idea; and I would love to see flying vehicles that the average person could afford, that is my wishful thinking.

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9. 78

   Wesman Todd Shawposted 14 years ago

   If the media greed machine will tune down their overt materialism that is forever being sold to the masses, then perhaps we will see some sanity.  Dallas, Texas is now on the up and up with the DART system, but that could still be expanded a whole lot more.
   
   If there were trains running from the Cedar Creek area that connected to DART, then perhaps the poor of the rural neighborhoods(like me and mine) could go to Dallas and look for work.
   
   But nevermind all of that, it's a pipe dream, don't we have imaginary terrorist to attack in far away lands, in the name of Rothschild, Rockefeller, Halliburton, and BP?

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10. 59

    hellobloomposted 14 years ago

    
    
    I don't know about fifty years but here is some concept photos for air travel in 2025. Way cool!
    
    Check them out at:
    http://perezhilton.com/2011-01-14-three … ect-planes
    
    
    
    
    
    http://hellobloom.blogspot.com

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11. 60

    timd346posted 14 years ago

    I think if we start outfitting the country with high speed trains people will start using them for long distance travel. I also think that passenger planes will keep getting bigger and bigger, at the same time more efficient. And I can only hope that people start turning to alternative fueled cars.

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    starsofeightposted 14 years ago

    Many people will be on foot. ****************************************

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13. 58

    Laura Philipsposted 14 years ago

    The main way that transportation will change in America will be that it will move further and further away from fossil fuels. I believe this will happen much sooner than 50 years as we move towards greener sources of energy. It will eventually be out of necessity because the amount of oil that we use every year can't last us forever.

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14. 0

    Michael24posted 14 years ago

    I personally hope to see flying cars like in Back to the Future. Though let me say that i hope we rid ourself of foreign oil. Even though quite frankly that is impossible. We need to  be more dependent on our oil.

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15. 61

    fundguruposted 14 years ago

    Fifty years is a long period. There will be probably technologies that we haven´t thought about since today.
    
    But with view to the next decades new technologies will affect the entire logistic sector.
    
    The trend goes to trucks with biofuel, hydrogen, natural gas, but in the future certainly to electric vehicles. Lean and clean.
    
    So in the next two decades the US will become less dependent from the oil nations, but more dependent on the energy corporations. CSR will play a more important role.
    
    In addition other techs will become available. Not only super freight airplanes, but also environmental friendly solar based zeppelins.
    
    Depending on the freight it may becomes cheaper than truckload or shipping.
    
    Also electromagnetic railways, high speed cargo trains, may in 20-30 years will have established. Imagine to deliver within the US at a speed of 300 mph.
    
    In addition storage systems and delivery will be more automated. Already now many companies use machines to store items.
    
    With view to 40-50 years I can imagine that an another attempt of wireless electricity will provide all vehicles with energy and so vehicles lose weight or have more power.
    
    Well and also the robot technology for cars and trucks probably will evolve and mankind may build closed highways and roads only for robot trucks.

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16. 70

    onegoodwomanposted 14 years ago

    There is no denying the advancement of electric autos, improvements in public transportation and other powered vehicles.
    
    Yet, I do not see the economy improving to the point that most world citizens will be able to take advantage of the new energy ideas.
    
    I expect to see in my lifetime, more use of horse or mule drawn vehicles and ankle express.   Returning to the land and to simplicity has already begun.  As I need to replace appliances, I am returning to hand or foot powered items.  Hard to find, and a bit costly, they will endure and operate when totally off of the grid.

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17. 61

    angel115707posted 14 years ago

    we are due for a solar storm any time, so if you do not have an old vehicle, get one, any with fuel injectors or micro chips are gone, don't take my word for it, ask NASA, our government has a few prepared jets and is working on saving the internet rather than saving us....

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18. 65

    drdspervezposted 14 years ago

    At the rate things and technologies are changing, flying saucers probably.
    
    DR. DURRESHAHWAR PERVEZ

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19. 0

    Mr Tindleposted 14 years ago

    Though I do agree with some of the pessimism regarding higher (probably much higer) energy prices, 50 years is a long time for innovation and progress to take place. Higher energy prices will be very painful, but are likely to drive more technological advancement. There is that old saying that "Necessity is the mother of invention" I think this is likely to prove true with transportation, so I don't think every one will be riding around on horses and mules 50 years from now. Here are some of the things I think we will see.
    
    Fuel Efficiency will be much higher and there will be more choices available to consumers (hopefully).
    
    Automobiles and other transportation machines will have a greater capacity for computer automated driving and navigation. We already see this developing with some cars being able to parallel park themselves. The technology is not great, but it will get better.
    
    How about flying cars? This one may be overly optimistic, but I would never say never. The guy who founded Mint.com is actually investing his money in trying to make this happen. Many people said we would never be able to fly period and again 50 years is a long time from now. 2061 to be exact!

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20. 77

    mcrawford76posted 14 years ago

    So I guess I was the only one thinking jetpacks?

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