The twenty-first century should be, and it certainly can be, better in urban transportation than the twentieth century was. The last 100 years were basically devoted to the exploitation and further development of modes, technologies, and service approaches that were created in the nineteenth century. All the rail types, bicycles, and even the automobile are now more than 100 years old. We used them all in North America, and to a large extent built cities that are not particularly attractive, are certainly very inefficient, and are plagued by various quite familiar ills. Sprawl, pollution, and loss of many traditional urban amenities can be ascribed to the inappropriate and unwise use of the automobile, which remains immensely popular. Communal transit that should bring a higher degree of livability to cities has become the neglected and unloved orphan among mobility choices.

At the same time, travel distances between cities have shrunk to a few hours in most cases, and any civilized place on the globe can be reached within a day. The cheap transport of goods back and forth among production stations has cut costs of finished products and generated an interlinked global economy, for better or worse. The automobile, as a personal device and a family appliance, has revolutionized lifestyles, given most of us on this continent unprecedented mobility, and usually pleases each owner and user. Yet, we may not particularly enjoy the long rides that are now associated with any trip purpose; there may not be too many interesting...