Wikimedia Commons via Jorge Royan
- People around the world use interesting forms of public transportation that span beyond the typical public bus or subway.
- From wooden toboggans to subway trains held up by magnets, these 6 types of transit run the gamut of technology and creativity.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Every day, people around the world get from point A to point B using unique methods of transportation that differ from the traditional bus and subway.
Some, such as the norry, are low-tech solutions created from a need for cheap access to transportation. Others, such as the high-tech maglev train, have been considered scientific breakthroughs.
Here are six of the most unique forms of transportation around the world, from Portugal to Cambodia.
Coco Taxis in Cuba
Ramon Espinosa/Associated Press
Coco Taxis have been a popular mode of transportation for tourists visiting Cuba since the 1990s. The taxis are made from fiberglass shells and seats welded onto Piaggio scooters and they get their name from their bright yellow, coconut-shaped shells. They can be found in major Cuban cities like Havana, Veradero, and Trinidad.
Source: Coco Taxi
Jeepneys in the Philippines
Dondi Tawatao/Reuters
Jeepneys are considered a symbol of Filipino culture. These bus-like transports were made out of Willy Jeeps that were left by the United States after World War II in the early 1950s. The jeeps were lengthened to fit more seats, topped with a roof, and painted colorfully. The unique, individual paint jobs adorning these jeepneys have attracted designers like Christian Louboutin, who released tote bags inspired by the vehicle in 2018.
Over the past few years, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has been trying to phase out Jeepneys despite protests from the drivers and low-income citizens. President Duterte hopes to replace the Jeepneys with more eco-friendly, modernized vehicles that more closely resemble a bus than a Jeepney. This change is intended to reduce pollution, increase safety, and make public transportation more accessible.
Source: The New York Times, Lonely Planet, Culture Trip
The Schwebebahn in Germany
Wuppertal.de
The next time you’re in Wuppertal, Germany, take a ride on the Schwebebahn suspension railway that snakes above the city and the Wupper tributary. The iconic monorail began operation in 1901 and is now being used by about 85,000 passengers daily.
The railway is also famous for a 1950 incident involving the circus elephant named Tuffi. The circus elephant rode the monorail as part of an advertising stunt but threw a fit and fell out a window, surviving a 39-feet fall into the river.
Source: Wuppertal.de
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- A writer’s surprisingly simple trick for staying safe in a Lyft has gone viral. Here’s what you need to know.
- Elon Musk said older Teslas will probably get the chip the company designed to make its cars self-driving near the end of this year
- A toddler has died after falling 11 stories from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship
Source: Business Insider – bchang@businessinsider.com (Brittany Chang)