45 Public Transportation Innovations
From LED Technology for Subways to Self-Steering Buses:
Meghan Young — Oct 24, 2009 — Autos
It’s becoming ever more important to encourage people to utilize public transportation over more wasteful transit options. To do this, metros across the globe are redefining the way we travel. If that entails a simple redesign or introducing high-tech, eco-friendly transportation vehicles, they’re pulling all the stops. Check out these public transportation innovations to see for yourself.
45
Controversial Public Transit Photos
Paris Metro Nudes
44
Personal Trains
ULTRa Future Train
43
Public Transit 2.0
Florence TAV Station
42
Sexist Subways
Women-Only Transit In Seoul
41
Futuristic Bus Stops
The Solar-Powered EyeStop Makes Public Transit Smarter
40
Personal Transportation Pods
Room For Only One in the Metro Cell Vehicle
39
Crowdpowered Transit
Alex Astilean's Speedfit Treadmobile is an Exercise in Innovation
38
Eco Bus Stops
San Francisco Unveils Project for Solar Powered Transit Stations
37
Futuristic Public Transit Pods
Personal Train Capsules
36
Musical Subway Stairs
Piano Stairs Encourage People to Get Some Exercise
35
Child-Friendly Train
Japanese Public Transit for Kids by Eiji Mititooka
34
Solar-Powered Bus Stops
Johann Paquelier's Transit Design Lights Up at Night
33
Attractive Bus Stops
Mass Transit Design Lures Riders in With Comfortable Waiting Area
32
$7.64 Billion Transit Systems
The Dubai Luxury Metro System Redefines City Travel
31
Energy-Generating Subway Station Floors
East Japan Railway Harvests Power from Commuters
30
Single-Seat Buses
Slimo Allows Individualized Public Transportation
29
Ceiling-Mounted Subway Maps
GPS System Pinpoints Location on Subway Car Ceilings
28
Tranquil Spanish Subway Ad
Metro Madrid
27
Future Transit Hubs
Chicago Union Station Aims to Move Crowds Through Clouds
26
Super-Sized Fat Seats
Shameful Seating for the Obese Installed on Brazilian Subway
25
Animated Subvertising
Subway Ads Flicker in Asia
24
Extreme Public Transportation
Giant Suction Cups for Hitchhikers for 2008 Fiat Contest
23
Self-Steering Buses
UC Berkeley Magnetic Transit
22
Branded Landmarks
NYC Subway Car Gets Wrapped
21
Made in Transit Produce
Growing Food On-the-Way
20
Bottoms Up Transit
Electric Inverted Monorail Could Come to a City Near You
19
Subway Web Surfing
WiFi Rail Makes Deal with BART for Underground Internet Access
18
Nordic Metro Art Installation
The Tunnel of Light Escalator
17
Rollercoaster Metro
Carmelit Slanted Subway
16
Eco Smart Transit Signs
Solar-Powered Synchomatics Uses Autodesk to Create Digital Prototypes
15
Stylish Subway Entrances
Toulouse, France Introduces Modern Art to Public Transit
14
Subway Finder Apps
Acrossair Pinpoints the Location of the London Tube for iPhone
13
Perpetual Passenger Train
Non-Stop Metro Rail Transit
12
Underground Art Galleries
The Platform at Degrave Street Subway Station
11
Passenger Cargo Trains
The Urban Frog Serves Multipurpose Transportation
10
Subway Stations Get Mobile Service
NYC Tunnel Talk
9
Subway Cafes
Subway Tries Espresso & Paninis
8
Subway Head-Holders
Gadgets to Help Tired Commuters Take Quick Naps en Route
7
Metro Monsters
Alex Andreyev Shows the Life of Insects & Critters on the Subway
6
LED Technology for Subways
See-Through Information
5
Driverless Transportation
Personal Rapid Transport (PRT) Vehicles at Heathrow Airport
4
Trains That Mimic Nature
Renfe Protects Planet With Animal-Inspired Transportation
3
Emergency Subway Lights
The Detachable Handle Light Makes for a Safer and Calmer Train Evacuation
2
Subway Ticket Portraits
Parisian Metro Artist Luc Grateau
1
Redecorating Subway Cars
Pranksters Turn Train into a Living Room
Related Ideas
Futuristic Supercar Designs
These Bugatti Custom Vehicle Designs by FLYBYARTIST are Rugged
Plane-Inspired Vehicle Designs
This Mercedes-Benz Concept Vehicle by Al Yasid Balances Aesthetics
Retro-Style Electric Trikes
The Conceptual E-Trike Revolution by André Fangueiro is Eye-Catching
Short-Range Electric Motorcycles
The ATHENA e-Motorcycle Concept by Zhengxuan Xie is Stylish
Autonomous Three-Wheeled Task Vehicles
The 'ECHO' Self-Driving Concept Trike Has Hubless Wheels
Transforming Commuter Vehicles
The Conceptual Audi Vista Roadster by Hyunsik Moon is Shapeshifting
Modular Customization Electric Vehicles
The Conceptual Arrival ANT is Designed for London Streets
Reconfigurable Travel Pod Vehicles
The PIX Robobus Changes According to Passenger Needs
Expanding Off-Grid Electric RVs
The Electric Transformer House is Sustainable and Luxurious
Autonomous Vehicle Coffee Makers
The 'DOTS' Vehicle Coffee Machine by Junseo Oh is Compact
Boomerang-Shaped Urban Mobility Vehicles
The Conceptual 'PIX-L7' Vehicle is Adventure-Ready
Electric Street Food Bikes
'SmartEbikes' Aims to Disrupt the Street Food Industry with Bikes
Shapeshifting Interior Electric Vehicles
The Volkswagen Gen.Travel Concept Has a Luxurious Feel
3D-Printed House Neighborhoods
EYRC and Mighty Buildings Develop the Suburbs of the Future
Multifunctional Hybrid Electric Bikes
YU ID Presents the Versatile Electric Mobility Bike
Flying Car Concepts
Alef Aeronautics Comes Closer to Making Flying Cars a Reality with Model-A
Omni-Fuel Vehicle Concepts
The 'Andrietta' Concept Car by Lee Rosario Uses Gas, Hydrogen and More
Video Game-Inspired Vehicle Designs
The Conceptual 'MG MAZE' Celebrates Real and Virtual Worlds
Lifestyle-Conscious Transportation Pods
The KIA Pod Concept by Junseok Park Has Level 5 Autonomy
Autonomous Timber Transportation Shuttles
The Conceptual 'Timber Shuttle' is Eco-Focused
Impairment-Aiding Navigation Apps
The Commute Booster App is Made to Help the Visually Impaired
Long-Distance Electric Scooters
The 'Pro.Zui' Electric Scooter Concept by Ognjen Docic is Sleek
Hotel Room Vehicle Designs
The Mercedes x Belmond Vision Pullman Express is a Hotel on Wheels
Smartphone Seating Campaigns
This Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Promotion Takes Over Bus Shelters
Gen Z-Targeted Scooter Models
The Conceptual 'Omni' Electric Scooter is Customizable
Wireless Solar-Powered Lights
Lund University Students Explore the Benefits of Solar Power
Shapeshifting Electric Rickshaw Scooters
The Surge S32 Has an Interchangeable Body Frame
Emerging Technology Publications
New Society Has Launched Its Inaugural Book About Technology
Transforming Commuter Kick Scooters
The Conceptual 'Beam' Scooter Has a Flip-Up Seat
Maneuverable Electric City Buses
The REE XBW Concept Vehicle Has Individual-Wheel Drive
Scooter-Cargo Bike Hybrids
Razors Releases Its Most Robust Scooter Yet, the 'EcoSmart Cargo'
Supersonic Aircraft-Inspired EVs
The Conceptual Concorde 20+ Features Aviation Inspiration
Accessibility-Promoting Electric Quadricycles
This Vehicle Caters to Drivers With Disabilities
All-Electric Towed Trailers
The Lightship L1 Trailer is Battery-Powered and has a Minimal Design
Fully Autonomous Crossover SUVs
The Conceptual 'DKM 2.0' by Vladislav Semenov is Futuristic
Snazzy Electric Mobility Scooters
The 'Tectus' is Designed to Transport Seniors In Safety & Style
Retro-Style Electric Vans
The Porsche x VW Renndienst Id.Buzz Bus Revives a Classic Design
Futuristic Intelligent Toilets
Kohler Inserts “Advanced Technological Features” in Its Designs
Hybrid Design Commuter Vehicles
The Robotic City Car by Facundo Castellano is Futuristic
Relaxing Airplane Seat Designs
The Tranquil Airlines Seating Technology Has a Rocking Mechanism
Street Lamp Charging Stations
The 'EVIE' Lamppost EV Charger Maximizes Power Access
Eco-Friendly Automotive Tires
These Goodyear Sustainable Tires Have Traction-Tracking Treads
Urban Rental Scooter Systems
The 'City Wander' Portable Rental Scooter Concept is Space-Efficient
Van Life-Ready Vehicles
The 2023 Ford Transit Trail Supports Comfortable Van Living
Ultra-Futuristic Modern Cars
The Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven EV is Visually Striking
Sustainable Smart City Solutions
Omniflow is Illuminating Sustainable Smart Cities with Edge AI
Interactive Autonomous Delivery Vehicles
The Conceptual ROBO A2Z Delivery Vehicle is Advanced
Connected Urbanite Electric Bikes
The Pave Motors BK e-Bike Has a Sleek, Minimalist Design
Escapism Electric Vehicle Concepts
The 'Trekker' Concept Vehicle is Imagined for Urbanites in 2030
Solar-Powered Rail Bus Systems
The RTA in Dubai Presents Plans for Floc Duo Rail System
Bidirectional Charging Electric Vehicles
The Upcoming Volvo EX90 Functions as a Mobile Generator
Driverless Robotaxis
Lyft Partners with Motional to Launch an Autonomous Taxi Called 'IONIQ 5'
Intelligent Grid-Reactive EV Chargers
This Kevee Smart EV Charging Technology is Advanced
Eco-Friendly Mining Trucks
This Prototype Truck is Powered By Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology
Climate-Controlled Cycling Paths
The 'Loop' Will Bring Comfortable Active Transportation to Dubai
Fast Food EV Chargers
Subway is Partnering with GenZ EV Solutions on Subway Oasis Charging Parks
Sustainable Air Travel Concepts
The Airbus Airspace Cabin Vision 2035+ Concept is Eco-Focused
Induction-Charging EV Systems
InductEV Offers Clean, Wireless EV-Charging Infrastructure at Scale
Startup Bike-Sharing Services
Curve Electric Partners with SSCL to Launch a Public E-Bike Service
Weekend Excursion City Vehicles
The Playbox Urban Mobility Vehicle is Imagined for 2040
Retro-Futuristic Headlight Automobiles
BMW Vision's Neue Klasse Gears Towards an Electric Angle
IoT-Connected Traffic Beacons
This Traffic Beacon Concept Changes According to Needs
Car Color-Changing Technology
BMW Conceptualizes Car Color-Changing Technology
Sleek Sustainable EV Concepts
The Opel Experimental EV Concept Has Augmented Projection Technology
Eco-Friendly Telecom Companies
SK Group Showcased Over 40 Sustainable Technologies at CES 2023
Turtle-Inspired Sleek Automobiles
Mercedes Benz Presents a Look at the Vision iMobility
Accessible Subway QR Codes
Colorful QR Codes in New York's Subways Will Help People Navigate
Sustainable Urban Transport Highways
The Loop in Dubai is a New Zero-Emissions System by URB
Digital City-Inspired Art Works
New Digital Art is on Display in Grand Central Station
AI-Powered Transporting Software
Ontruck Launches AI-Powered Freight Management Solutions
Chicagoan Chatbot Services
This Chatbot Helps Users Navigate Chicago's Public Transit System
Stone Waste Street Lights
The Conceptual 'Pebble' Street Light Offers Ambient Illumination
Accessible Airline Seats
Delta is Incorporating Seats to Support Travelers with Mobility Issues
Slick Electric Tricycles
The EVRYJourney 250W Electric Tricycle is Chic and Convenient
Autonomous Driving Initiatives
Volkswagen Announced a New Partnership with 'Mobileye'
Pedicab Shuttle Services
Go By Bike is a First-Ever Large-Scale Pedicab Service
Car-Free AR Lenses
Bolt's Feels Like Home Campaign Uses AR to Envision Car-Free Spaces
Updated Sustainable API Features
Google Adds New Features to its Ingenious Project Sunroof
Battery-Powered Food Trucks
Food Trucks are Replacing Dirty Generators with Clean Battery Systems
Neighborhood Electric Vehicles
The Club Car CRU Invites People to Slow Down & "Be a Detourist"
Subway-Inspired Colorful Highlighters
Wonjun Jo Designs the New Modular LINE Highlighters
Smart Parking Systems
Continental’s Radar Vision Parking Supports Software-Defined Vehicles
Youth-Catered Transportation Apps
Uber Introduces Teen Accounts in the Latest Update
Repurposed Waste Transit Tiles
Jeffrey Miller Creates Riles for the London Underground
Electric Bikeshare Programs
'Bluebikes' is Adding a Fleet of eBikes to its Rental Suite
Redesigned Unifying Transit Terminals
Foster + Partners Renovates the NY Midtown Bus Terminal
Accessible Stadium Shuttles
Wembley Stadium's Shuttle Service Offers an Added Support Concierge
UAE-Based Smart Taxis
UAE Residents Will Be Able to Call AI Smart Taxis Thanks to Hyundai
Updated Air Taxi Designs
Hyundai Unveils the New Elevated S-A2 Air Taxi During CES
Eco-Friendly Navigation Features
Google Maps Allows Eco-Conscious Trip Planning
Progressive Sleeper Transit Designs
2050 Lab Designs a New Sleeper Car for Comfort On-The-Go
Research-Centric Hydrogen Motorcycles
This Open-Source Two-Wheeler Aims to Encourage Innovation
Adaptable Foldable Electric Bikes
Buzzy Bike Designs a Dynamic and Expressive E-Bike
LED-Wrapped Airport Renovations
Prague's Airport is Getting a Sustainable and High-Tech Update
Intelligent Infotainment System Updates
Gm Will Move to a New Google Infotainment System for EVs
Efficient Virtual Power Plants
These Battery-Swap Stations Are Contributing to the Electrical Grid
Partially Autonomous Touring EVs
Arcimoto Designs the New Electric Vehicle to Tour Around Vegas
Accessible Driverless Public Buses
Treasure Island Rolls Out the Loop Program in San Francisco
Vibrant Public Art Installations
Rico Gatson's Installation Brings Life to Penn Station
Advanced Automobile Driver Assists
Ford's BlueCruise Feature Rolls Out as a Subscription Service
iOS-Influenced Travel Apps
Uber’s Redesigned App Uses the Latest iPhone Features on iOS 16
AI Navigation Upgrades
Tmap Mobility Launches an AI-Powered Revamp for its Navigation App
Kenyan E-Bike Programs
Uber Drivers in Kenya can Now Use an Uber-Branded E-Bike with Electric Boda
QR Code Travel Tickets
Delhi Metro Unveils QR Code-Based Paper Tickets for Metro Passengers
Electric Cargo Trailers
Nüwiel's Innovation Can Be Attached to Any Bike or Can Be Guided by Hand
Game-Inspired Electric Vehicles
Peugeot Designs the New Inception EV With Game-Like Steering
Solar Cell Cycling Paths
These Dutch Cycling Paths Are Sheathed In Photovoltaic Cells
4G IoT Bus Trackers
ATrack Technology Launches Two New Vehicle Fleet Management Products
Airport-Navigation App Updates
The Latest Uber Updates Make Planning Travel More Streamlined
Hyper-Fast Charging Stations
New York City's Latest EV Charging Supercenter is Powered by Gravity
Latticed-Steel Transport Hub Columns
Tremend Designs the Metropolitan Station in Lublin
Comfort-Focused Business Features
Uber Launches a Series of Features to Benefit Business Travelers
Electric Truck Postal Carriers
The United States Postal Service is Switching to Electric Vehicles
Software-Defined Collaborative Vehicles
Google and Renault Work Together on a New Digital Car
Expanded E-Bike-Sharing Programs
BCycle will be Available in Capitola's new Sharing Program
Interactive Sandwich Billboards
Subway's 3D Billboard Lets Onlookers Build Their Own Sub On-Screen
Real-Time Transit Updates
Moovit Users Can Now Track Transit Vehicles on the Map in Real Time
Affordable Public Transport Initiatives
Germany Offers Unlimited Public Transit for €49 Monthly
Electric Earning Incentives
Lyft Announced New Earnings Incentive for Going Electric
Luxe Illuminating Car Headlights
Porsche Designs a New Hd Matrix Light Technology for Cars
Revamped Modern Phone Booths
100architects Brings Digital Touches to the Classic Phone Booth
City Exploration Apps
Concrete is a Social Exploration App Inviting Users to Discover Their City
Electric Ride-Share Partnerships
Uber and Hertz are Making Electric Vehicles Accessible to Drivers
Autonomous Robot Taxis
Uber Partners with Motional to Become Completely Driverless by 2023
Inflated Vibrant Futuristic Buses
Midjourney Helped Create the Mutated School Bus Design
All-Electric Medium-Duty Trucks
Volta's Prototype Truck is Designed For Sustainable Hauling
AI-Powered Transit Services
Hayden AI Aims to Improve Transit Safety with Artificial Intelligence
Energy-Efficient Hybrid Vehicles
These Peugeot Hybrid Vehicles Reduce Fuel Use by 15%
Taxi Round-Trip Services
Uber Unveils the Intercity Round Trips Feature for Indian Travelers
Smart Transit Solutions
NEXCOM is Unveiling a New Mobility System for Public Transit at APTA 2023
Accessible Ride App Safety-Tools
Uber is Altering its App for The Safety Tools in One Place
Turn-By-Turn Truck Navigation Apps
Austosled Adds GPS Navigation to Its Signature Mobile App
Swedish Electric Road Highways
Trafikverket is Leading a Project to Charge EVs Whilst Driving
Expansive Cycling Covered Highways
Urb Designs the Loop, which is a Covered Highway for Cyclists
Weather-Metric Robot Taxis
Waymo's Robotaxis Have a New Metric for Better Weather Intuition
Knitted New York Subways
The Straphangers Lounge Recreates the New York Subway with Crochet
American Bike Sharing Programs
MetroBike is Expanding Beyond Austin and Tripling its Fleet
Electric Vehicle Holiday Updates
Tesla Unveils its New Steam Integration for its Model S and X
Electric Ride Share Apps
Uber Intorudces Comfort Electric to Vancouver
Airline Premium Display Installations
United Airlines Installs Panasonic Avionics to its Planes