VEHICLE, PROCESS AND SYSTEM FOR MASS TRANSPORTATION

摘要

A mass transportation system (100) deploys dual use vehicles (351) that transfer between a primary track (110) and streets (50) via a secondary or switching track (121). The dual use vehicles (351) have comparable sizes and weights to ordinary automobiles but are configured to engage the primary track (110) via either the street tires (440) or a co-axially disposed wheels (411). When engaging the primary track (110) the vehicles (351) travel clustered in pods (200) or groups for higher speed travel than on ordinary roads. The vehicles (351) transfer from the primary track (110) without a significant change in speed by disengaging or engaging the switching track (121). The switching track (121) selectively drops or removes single vehicles (351) from the pods (200) according to the position of a track engaging support member associated with each vehicle (351).