River-based public transport: Why won’t Paris jump on board?

Abstract

Given the magnitude of transport-problems in many large cities, the potential of rivers to serve as transport arteries is being recognized once again. However, some world cities, such as Paris, have failed to maximize their river potential. The Seine remains underutilized by mass commuter ferries serving the local population. Why, in the modern era, has Paris not taken advantage of its river for commuter transport? Will it do so in the future? This article answers these questions, which are important at the present time of grave sustainability concerns. The identified barriers include: (a) funding constraints; (b) competition by other modes; (c) lack of political and institutional will; (d) lack of opportunity; (e) local legislation;and (f) technical issues. The first three are common worldwide while the last three are specific to Paris. Sous le pont Mirabeau coule la Seine, et nos amours…

Přívozy na starých topografických mapách

“…V Česku jsou v současnosti přívozy provozovány také na některých významnějších vodních nádržích. Především v městských oblastech přívozy aktuálně slouží jako součást veřejné městské dopravy [4,5], přičemž jde nejen o uchování určité tradice v dopravním systému, ale i o praktický efekt zkrácení doby dopravy pro každodenní dojížďku a zároveň představují turistickou atrakci. Přívozy tímto kompenzují nedostatek mostů, jež by usnadnily cestujícím pohyb mezi konkrétními cíli na opačných březích řek.…”

Is It Possible to Develop Electromobility in Urban Passenger Shipping in Post-Communist Countries? Evidence from Gdańsk, Poland

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A modularly tailored commuter ferry platform

“…Despite WPT's advantages and recent interest, its establishment and development pose several challenges including funding constraints, competition from other modes, low political will, low opportunity, local legislation and technical issues [7]. Of these, technical issues holds considerable potential in mitigating the aforementioned barriers.…”