Transportation Vehicles Society

Slide 1:Transportation Vehicles & Society

Slide 2:Overview Pre-1600 Primitive transport 1600-1800 Rise of the horse 1800-1900 Rail, steam, electricity 1900-1950 Rise of the automobile 1950-present Freeways, containers & air Major themes Time Economics Accessibility

Slide 3:Pre-1600: Primitive Transport Primary modes of transport Foot Cart Horse Pre-industrial cities Few open spaces Inverse class segregation from today

Slide 5:1600 � 1800: Rise of the Horse Additional transport modes: Carriage Wagon Major issues More mobility More safety issues More pollution

Slide 6:Major Events

Slide 8:Intracity Transport Horse power dominates Charging for rides Hackney coaches (hacks) Cabriolet (cab) and hansom carriages Omnibus (1820s) Expensive: $0.25/mile

Slide 11:1600 � 1800: State of Transport

Slide 12:1800 � 1900: Rail, Steam & Electricity Additional transport modes: Steam powered vehicles Cable cars Electric trolley Major issues Steam power Safety (higher speeds, steam power) Suburbanization

Slide 13:Major Events

Slide 14:The �Pull� of Rail

Slide 15:Focus: Pavements

Slide 20:Plank and Corduroy pavements were popular in the Pacific Northwest because wood was easier to come by than stone.Plank and Corduroy pavements were popular in the Pacific Northwest because wood was easier to come by than stone.

Slide 21:Notice the relatively high quality of this plank pavement in Port AngelesNotice the relatively high quality of this plank pavement in Port Angeles

Slide 22:City pavements required some roughness so that horses could get a foothold and traction. Wood blocks were considered ideas (for a while) because they could mimic the foothold of cobblestone or block pavement, but the wood muffled the sound of the horseshoes. Problem was, wood deteriorated quickly (3 to 5 years for a plank pavement). Wood blocks treated with creosote to make them last upwards of 10 to 15 years (likely an exaggerated claim). Wood blocks lost popularity in the U.S. partly because of a couple of: Chicago Fire (1871). Streets with creosote soaked wood blocks served to spread the fire rather than serve as fire barriers. They didn�t last in may places, especially Washington, D.C. (1878) � lasted 5 years and city spent 20 years paying off bonds for a pavement that no longer existed. Introduction of asphalt pavements and concrete foundations. City pavements required some roughness so that horses could get a foothold and traction. Wood blocks were considered ideas (for a while) because they could mimic the foothold of cobblestone or block pavement, but the wood muffled the sound of the horseshoes. Problem was, wood deteriorated quickly (3 to 5 years for a plank pavement). Wood blocks treated with creosote to make them last upwards of 10 to 15 years (likely an exaggerated claim). Wood blocks lost popularity in the U.S. partly because of a couple of: Chicago Fire (1871). Streets with creosote soaked wood blocks served to spread the fire rather than serve as fire barriers. They didn�t last in may places, especially Washington, D.C. (1878) � lasted 5 years and city spent 20 years paying off bonds for a pavement that no longer existed. Introduction of asphalt pavements and concrete foundations.

Slide 24:Many streets were overlaid with a thin layer of �sheet asphalt�. Concrete was often used as a base and then surfaced with asphalt. Concrete shattered under iron horseshoe loads but could withstand more loads without deforming. Solution was to pave concrete and then surface with softer, smoother asphalt.Many streets were overlaid with a thin layer of �sheet asphalt�. Concrete was often used as a base and then surfaced with asphalt. Concrete shattered under iron horseshoe loads but could withstand more loads without deforming. Solution was to pave concrete and then surface with softer, smoother asphalt.

Slide 27:Paying for Roads/Pavement Generally abutters paid for improvements. Originally they paid for roads and pavements independent of the City. Later, special assessments became common, although the only thing the City really did was provide engineering advice and coercive and borrowing power. Often, quality of pavement was bad as abutters sought cheapest fix. Parking was sometimes included between sidewalk and abutters. People were allowed to plant there but not build (still have vestiges of this today). Paying for Roads/Pavement Generally abutters paid for improvements. Originally they paid for roads and pavements independent of the City. Later, special assessments became common, although the only thing the City really did was provide engineering advice and coercive and borrowing power. Often, quality of pavement was bad as abutters sought cheapest fix. Parking was sometimes included between sidewalk and abutters. People were allowed to plant there but not build (still have vestiges of this today).

Slide 28:Types of Pavement in Major U.S. Cities We were generally 20 years behind European innovation in the U.S. as far as pavements went. We were generally 20 years behind European innovation in the U.S. as far as pavements went.

Slide 29:Sydney, Australia Pavements

Slide 30:Steam Vehicles First tried on vehicles in 1830s Many cities prohibited due to high speeds and boiler explosion fears Relegated to separate ROW for safety Gave rise to Elevated (�Els�) in 1860s Steam vehicles associated with rail in U.S. Commuter rail (1830s � 1900s) Creates �suburbs� around rail lines Grooved rail Boston commuters: 6% in 1850, 1/3 by rail, 18% by 1860 Alphonse Loubat invented grooved rail NYC 1852Boston commuters: 6% in 1850, 1/3 by rail, 18% by 1860 Alphonse Loubat invented grooved rail NYC 1852

Slide 34:Horse-drawn trolley�s come along after invention of rail with a groove so it can lay at grade with rest of pavement More efficient to travel on rail than on crappy pavementHorse-drawn trolley�s come along after invention of rail with a groove so it can lay at grade with rest of pavement More efficient to travel on rail than on crappy pavement

Slide 35:Focus: the Trouble with Horses Lots of horses 1 per 23 people (in large cities) Teamsters ? 328% (1870 � 1900) Filthy NYC sanitation removed 15,000 carcasses annually in the 1880s Each horse dropped 10 � 20 lbs of manure daily NYC manure 800,000 to 1,300,000 lbs daily (150,000 tons annually) NYC Central Park stable had a 30,000 ft3 pile of manure next to it Filth quotes of p. 51 second-to-last paragraphFilth quotes of p. 51 second-to-last paragraph

Slide 36:Focus: the Trouble with Horses Unhealthy Tuberculosis (TB) leading cause of death in the 1890s TB death rate ? as number of autos ? (probable correlation with horse filth/dust) Expensive $1,200 for a tandem in 1850 Freight costs: Chicago to NYC = $7.50/ton (railroads) NYC local delivery = $5.00/ton (horse power) Dangerous Traffic fatalities were higher for wagons and carriages than for streetcars

Slide 39:Yesler St. Cable car line opened in September 1888 and ran until 1940. At time of opening, it was the 7th in the world and first in the Pacific NW. Cable cars are expensive: installation could run $100,000/mile About 10 mph is top speed Yesler St. Cable car line opened in September 1888 and ran until 1940. At time of opening, it was the 7th in the world and first in the Pacific NW. Cable cars are expensive: installation could run $100,000/mile About 10 mph is top speed

Slide 40:Became feasible after the invention of the electric generator in 1870 Werner von Siemens built first system in Berlin in 1879 but 3rd rail was on ground and unsafe (system fenced off from public). He built an overhead wire system in Paris in 1881. Cost 1/3 of cable cars, making fares more affordable. This gave rise to true urban �mass transit�. Allows for city areas to grow (nearly double in 10 years) because streetcar allows you to still reach the CBD.Became feasible after the invention of the electric generator in 1870 Werner von Siemens built first system in Berlin in 1879 but 3rd rail was on ground and unsafe (system fenced off from public). He built an overhead wire system in Paris in 1881. Cost 1/3 of cable cars, making fares more affordable. This gave rise to true urban �mass transit�. Allows for city areas to grow (nearly double in 10 years) because streetcar allows you to still reach the CBD.

Slide 43:1800-1900: State of Transport

Slide 44:1900 � 1950: Rise of the Automobile Additional transport modes: Internal combustion automobile Major issues Affordability Independence

Slide 45:Major Events

Slide 46:Major Issues Shaping the Auto Low population densities Pavements Prejudice against fast vehicles wanes Unresponsiveness & monopolistic trolleys Influence of the bicycle Social demand New middle class status symbol Allows for suburban living Pollution Auto developed first in urban European cities with the best pavement infrastructrure Bicycle opened minds to longer distance independent travel, practical use of the pneumatic tire, drive trainsAuto developed first in urban European cities with the best pavement infrastructrure Bicycle opened minds to longer distance independent travel, practical use of the pneumatic tire, drive trains

Slide 47:Development of the American Car

Slide 48:Cost (Model T)

Slide 49:Values Associated with Autos Independence Freedom Status Liberation Strength Reliability Conquest Romance Mr. Toad�s Wild Ride was from the Wind in the Willows (1908) Tracy Chapman�s Fast Car You got a fast carI want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhereAnyplace is betterStarting from zero got nothing to loseMaybe we�ll make somethingBut me myself I got nothing to proveYou got a fast carAnd I got a plan to get us out of hereI been working at the convenience storeManaged to save just a little bit of moneyWe won�t have to drive too farJust �cross the border and into the cityYou and I can both get jobsAnd finally see what it means to be livingYou see my old man�s got a problemHe live with the bottle that�s the way it isHe says his body�s too old for workingI say his body�s too young to look like hisMy mama went off and left himShe wanted more from life than he could giveI said somebody�s got to take care of himSo I quit school and that�s what I didYou got a fast carBut is it fast enough so we can fly awayWe gotta make a decisionWe leave tonight or live and die this wayI remember we were driving driving in your carThe speed so fast I felt like I was drunkCity lights lay out before usAnd your arm felt nice wrapped �round my shoulderAnd I had a feeling that I belongedAnd I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someoneYou got a fast carAnd we go cruising to entertain ourselvesYou still ain�t got a jobAnd I work in a market as a checkout girlI know things will get betterYou�ll find work and I�ll get promotedWe�ll move out of the shelterBuy a big house and live in the suburbsYou got a fast carAnd I got a job that pays all our billsYou stay out drinking late at the barSee more of your friends than you do of your kidsI�d always hoped for betterThought maybe together you and me would find itI got no plans I ain�t going nowhereSo take your fast car and keep on drivingYou got a fast carBut is it fast enough so you can fly awayYou gotta make a decisionYou leave tonight or live and die this way Mr. Toad�s Wild Ride was from the Wind in the Willows (1908) Tracy Chapman�s Fast Car You got a fast carI want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhere

Slide 56:1900-1950: State of Transport

Slide 57:1950+: Freeways, Containers & Air Additional transport modes: Freight trucking Container shipping Air Major issues Mobility Speed Cost Environmental justice Funding: 90% comes from the federal government To be built and maintained by the states Funding: 90% comes from the federal government To be built and maintained by the states

Slide 58:Major Events

Slide 61:Dedicated, December 30, 1940Dedicated, December 30, 1940

Slide 62:Intercity Travel Intercity Travel Initial impetus for limited access highways Jobs program (Autobahn, Interstate) Connect major urban areas and states Defense Intracity travel Not an original reason for Interstates 20% of Interstate mileage in urban areas Still somewhat uniquely American

Slide 71:Freeway Revolts Boston New Orleans San Francisco

Slide 72:Trucking

Slide 73:Truck Flow on the National Highway System

Slide 75:Container Freight 95% of world cargo volume moves by ship 1955: Modern container invented Containers 1972: 6.3 million TEU 1997: 163 million TEU 2003: 220 million TEU Cost of shipping: 1% of total cost of goods Ship size 1966: 600 TEUs 2000: 6,600 TEUsShip size 1966: 600 TEUs 2000: 6,600 TEUs

Slide 77:Air Travel

Slide 78:1950+: State of Transport

Slide 79:Suburban Living Cause and effect Intrinsic reasons for expansion into suburbia: Seek country-like surroundings commensurate with American rural life style values Reaction to close quarters housing of the early Industrial Revolution Urban fringe land is cheaper Transportation helped realize existing demands � it did not create them Trade off poor accessibility for lower housing costs then demand governments compensate them for poor accessibility by building or improving transportation systems Intrinsic reasons for expansion into suburbia: Seek country-like surroundings commensurate with American rural life style values Reaction to close quarters housing of the early Industrial Revolution Urban fringe land is cheaper Transportation helped realize existing demands � it did not create them Trade off poor accessibility for lower housing costs then demand governments compensate them for poor accessibility by building or improving transportation systems