Sabado, Enero 11, 2014

Comets You Wouldn’t Need a Telescope to See: The New Generation Public Transportation

            As a commuter, I use jeepneys of all sorts - colors and routes, in my daily travel to school and back home. Despite that, I’m sure it’s very easy to say that, and this goes for all the commuters and motorists out there, there are a lot of things you hate about the jeepney attitude in the country. One, they stop whenever and wherever they want. Two, they don’t give two cents about the safety of their passengers, Need-for-Speeding their way to their destinations. Three, they puff out the blackest of smokes, leaving a trail of what can only be called the death of our ozone as we know it. I say fear not, all these are being addressed in the latest proposal for the next generation public transportation vehicles – the COMET.
                 
                [Check this out: http://www.rappler.com/nation/42273-e-shuttle-comet-ph-jeepney]

            COMET stands for City Optimized Managed Electric Transport. As the name implies, it’s an electricity-run vehicle designed for city use and transport. What’s good about our friend, COMET, is that it tries to address the aforementioned problems of the current jeepney culture in the country. For one, the COMET is designed so that terminals are setup every 200-300 meters, systematizing the ins-and-outs of passengers. Second, it has a speedometer cap of 60kmph. While this may be questionably slow for some, it is only fitting for the traffic congestion in major cities in the country. Besides, believe me when I say that “patok” jeeps run in death-defying speeds as they play a very loud ‘Ice, Ice, Baby’ on their radios. The safety of passengers surely matter. Third, it runs on a battery which lasts 7 years, much better compared to previous designs of earlier e-vehicles whose batteries only run for a good 1 year. The lithium iron phosphate battery installed in COMET is enough to power a 100km-travel in a day until charged next. With this, it has zero carbon emission; hence no smoke belching and thus, say hello to blemish free skin for us commuters.
 
            That’s not all you can expect about COMET because there’s more! IT-wise, it needs an integrated traffic and route management system. Each vehicle is equipped with Wi-Fi, GPS, and CCTV which are all connected to a centralized system which enables for a more dynamic travel scheme. If there is an excess of COMETs deployed and a limited volume of passengers, they can be withdrawn from the road and re-deployed in other areas which are in more need of a ride. Furthermore, the system will make use of an LRT-like mechanism for fare payments. Passengers who wish to use COMET will have to buy stored-value cards which they have to tap in upon riding, and tap out again when going down. This lessens passenger contact inside the vehicle. I personally can’t be thankful enough for this feature having experienced passengers who will desperately avoid eye contact so they don’t feel morally obligated to do you a favor of passing your fare to the conductor. As for its appearance, the interior is spacious with a 6ft tall head clearance and doors on the side. This reduces the risk of seeing buttcracks as fellow passengers crouch to alight the jeep. But seriously though, this allows for easier and faster navigation inside. More importantly, passengers can go down the sidewalks instead of jumping into the bumpers of the vehicle behind your jeep.

[Check this out: http://www.rappler.com/nation/42273-e-shuttle-comet-ph-jeepney]

            The COMETs are set to be released this month. The pilot run will deploy 30 vehicles going from SM North EDSA to Megamall, travelling through Katipunan. This only means that we will be seeing a lot of COMETs in the near future. As a commuter and an environmentally concerned citizen, I must say, this COMET is truly sent from above.


            Whatchuthink?

6 (na) komento:

  1. Finally! There is something being done about the traffic congestion and the death defying stunts that are pulled by our public transportation drivers. I'd also like to point out that by using stored-valued cards, these COMETs are already reducing the graft and corruption in the country. We all know that these jeepney drivers have to pay some form of fee to the authorities as a form of "protection". By using these cards, i don't see the officials having any way of asking for "gifts" from the drivers.

    Kudos to whoever thought of this and GOODLUCK to whoever is going to implement this because it's sure isn't going to be easy.

    TumugonBurahin
  2. I look forward to seeing our country filled with e-shuttles and no traffic! I think COMET would really instill the value of discipline to Filipinos. It will test the patience of the Jeepney Drivers (poor them, only up to 60kmph) but at least, the passengers are surely safe. If ever this is implemented nationwide, the data collected can be used to analyze the volume and patterns in day-to-day commutation. It would help create plans for preventing future accidents and determine the best time and energy saving routes.

    TumugonBurahin
  3. I'm really excited to see this project unfold. Just thinking about roads without "pasaway" drivers makes me "kilig" to the bones. Less accidents,less stress for passengers with a trade off of more ecological help, and environmental satisfaction. My only concern for this project is that these new vehicles may be slow and might hinder other rushing drivers. I hope that COMET might be able to really plan out the routes and areas where their vehicles will be launched so all can experience the satisfaction brought about by this project

    TumugonBurahin
  4. Can't wait to see these around Katipunan! This does not only address the traffic problems we have but also some of the environmental problems. Since these are battery-powered, there will be so much less carbon emission. Aside from that, because of the speed cap, there will also be less reckless driving on our streets. It will basically save our lives (from possibility of getting ran over by a speeding jeepney and lung cancer).

    TumugonBurahin
  5. I thought only in ateneo would we see electrically powered jeepneys but nope! I like this idea and I am hoping to see COMETs around very very soon :D

    TumugonBurahin
  6. SOBRANG COOL!!!! Okay, excited na ulit ako magcommute dahil dito.
    Naalala ko tuloy yung fare payment system ng Hong Kong and Singapore buses. Hehe. Masyadong convenient. Sana ma-execute to ng maayos. Wouldn't want a plan as good as this to go to waste just because of poor implementation...

    GREAT FIND, CHO!! :>

    TumugonBurahin