The Big End - Back to the Future - Part II

Buying Time

Before you go to work or start your new day think what it will be like in the future.

The classic car movement in the main tries to preserve our past, and associates with desirable cars of the period. It could certainly be said that the movement is expert in the art of recycling thus helping our environment, but it can do nothing for the way we travel.

In the future I predict that the way we travel will radically change in its direction. Imagine the day starting with you logging on to your central base computer and accessing a PAC,( people access carriage), this will arrive remotely in the high speed transit tube which will network around the country. The tubes will take up less space and will be made of very durable materials which command low maintenance. The power will be magnetic pulse generation. Where possible they will be buried in the ground or take a special location which is environmentally friendly. It could be that for travel from the south to the north they will be placed off shore on the sea bed. This networking will have secondary access at special terminals. This will most probably be the main way we travel. It will be controlled by a central computer which will manage transfers from departure to destination. For other long distances we will travel by shuttle which will be earth curve space vehicles, which in operation skip the upper atmosphere and after gaining maximum height will glide land at the new destination. Shorter internal flights such as helicopter and light aircraft will also be available.

What of the roads you may ask. As you know these cost large amounts of money and do cause destruction when they are built. Maintaining them is also a drain. Already the government is implementing toll roads. This will increase and some major lengths of road will be managed by the private sector. Rural areas will still be linked by the old roads, but again entry, unless you live in the areas, would be controlled by prepayment or special permits for use of these roads.

The railways will come back in a big way, taking major freight in special long trains to designated freight terminals.

Some special areas will be left for leisure use and this I envisage within special designated National park areas. These areas will allow Classic rallies etc so your Morris or Classic car can be transferred to these areas by a special freight pod. You could also travel by road providing you pay the toll charges and have the correct route planning. This again will be much the same as if travelling by train or aircraft. One thing will be for sure that you will be restricted from just using your Morris as and when you like. This could be considered a draw back, but if your car is already on a limited mileage insurance policy again I see no problem here.

We in the classic arena must be cautious if we are to continue with our cars. It could easily be a political option in reducing motorcars to bring in adverse legislation which would make it almost impossible to use them. I have said that constructive agreements must be applied which suit everyone from the top downward. It would be an ideal world if everyone pulled together with a main plan. It will have to happen.

I hear you say this is a blow to our freedom. Perhaps, but I see no difference between you buying a gallon of petrol than buying time on a pod or on a road. This will perhaps be an advantage as with the pod system being the major low cost way we travel, then buying petrol will not be a priority. Most planning operations for travel will directly link the user from his own home and designated times for journeys will be allocated much the same as you taking a flight in an aircraft. What we will lose unfortunately is the spontaneous way we travel. It has to go if we are to get rid of unnecessary journeys which affect us all. The way to look at this problem is as a community benefit and not to hold onto selfish individual gratification. We have to work together if we, as in my last article, are to prevent a major gridlock occurring. We certainly have to start right now on this or it will be too late.

© Chris Street, September 1999