Fast and slow

While a hyperloop seems an incredible idea, other public transports also need to develop

Abu Dhabi needs a better public-transport infrastructure. Srijita Chattopadhyay / The National

When it was first mooted that a new, fast transport system could allow you to travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai or Al Ain in less than 15 minutes, most of us, especially those of a cynical disposition, thought this sounded like little more than science fiction. But the co-founder of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Bibop Gresta, has said that the technology is edging closer to reality. The National reported yesterday that a feasibility study will be submitted to authorities after Ramadan. One imagines, the key condition for making the scheme a success will be whether it can ever be cost-effective.

As this paper wrote at the weekend, Abu Dhabi is in need of a more diverse transport mix. With taxi costs rising, the authorities should look to add more buses and routes to the network. Hyperloop is a transport system to stir the imagination, but the answer to our commuting woes might be as simple as putting a few more buses on the streets.