Queer Vehicles Inventors Produce&amp;#8230;
If you follow any sort of tech press you&amp;#8217;ll have seen that PayPal and Tesla Motors co-founder Elon Musk has a transportation plan for a high-speed, rail-based future.
Basic components: It&amp;#8217;s people. In pods. Within Tubes. Traveling at 800mph (1,280kmh). Fueled by solar power. Because, future!
Der Spiegel takes a look at other transportation dreams that people have fetishized through the years. With names like the Dyno-Wheel Bus, Roller Steamer, Vactrain, Sea Slug, StarTram, and Rolling Ball, they&amp;#8217;re strange dreams, indeed.
My personal favorite comes from this 1930s report by Modern Mechanix on the future of the bus. Forget Wifi, we&amp;#8217;re getting &amp;#8220;planes for side trips, billiard rooms, a swimming pool, a dance floor and a bridle path.&amp;#8221;
Because, of course, when you&amp;#8217;re on a bus what you really need is a bridle path. &amp;#8212; Michael
Image: Popular Science introduces the &amp;#8220;Rolling Ball&amp;#8221; to the public, circa 1930. Via Spiegel Online.