Combined Elevated and Surface Structure.
Side Elevation of Elevated Structure.
Another decided advantage in the Bicycle cars is their convenience in receiving and discharging passengers, the doors, 36 in all, allowing instant exit. A car filled with 108 people can be emptied in a few seconds. There is no need for argument to show that 36 doors will allow emptying and filling more quickly than two. The difficulty of emptying a car quickly, containing 80 or 90 people, and obliging them to file through an aisle, is well understood, as we have all tried it, to say nothing of the inconvenience of pushing one’s way through a car, packed with standing crowds, in order to get out at the desired station. The delay at stations to allow entrance and exit is no inconsiderable obstacle to the desired rapid transit, as the time consumed is, on an average, nearly what it takes to run from station to station.
The Bicycle cars will obviate this difficulty, giving every opportunity for the saving of time at the stations, which in making 40 or 50 stops is considerable. The income of the elevated railways may be greatly increased and the expenses decreased, and at the same time give the public the much talked of and desired rapid transit. There is every reason to believe that the Bicycle express trains could average 40 miles per hour on the elevated railroad, making only the most important stops, while local trains could more than double the present average rate of speed.
ELECTRICITY APPLIED TO THE BICYCLE SYSTEM.
In addition to the numerous advantages of the Bicycle System over all others, the substitution of electricity for steam will greatly increase these advantages, and will show beyond a possibility of doubt that this system is especially adapted for the utilization of this motive force, more than any other known.
