Para-Transit: Neglected Options for Urban Mobility

Yagi Link Double in use with some of its alternates to form joined-up letters, on the cover of Para-Transit: Neglected Options for Urban Mobility. From the book abstract:

Increasing concern over pollution, congestion, and fuel consumption accompanying the use of the private auto in urban areas, together with greater emphasis on needs of those without access to autos, has led to major efforts to upgrade scheduled bus and rapid rail transit service in the U.S. cities. Other forms of transportation which are available to the public and use the streets and highways of urban areas, referred to as “para-transit,” are now under consideration as transportation alternatives. This study was designed to review the experience to date with para-transit services, to access their potential for servicing urban transportation demand, and to design an RD&D program as needed to identify and demonstrate innovations in the provisions of para-transit services which would be beneficial. Services studies were grouped into 3 categories: (1) “hire and drive” – daily car rentals and forms of short-term car rentals that have been proposed including Minicar and Public Automobile System; (2) “hail or phone”-taxi, dial-a-ride, jitney and related services; and (3) pre-arrange ride-sharing – forms of car pool, van pool, and subscription bus services. Four major applications of para-transit services are identified. Chapters include comparative study of para-transit modes, innovations in para-transit regulations and case studies. A para-transit bibliography is furnished. Tables and figures complement the text. A summary of this report is “Para-Transit: A Summary Assessment of Experience and Potential.”

The summary uses the same cover design with repeating lines in yellow, green, and red, here against a light background.

From the collections of Northwestern University’s Transportation Library.