GRT at National (and Provicial) Parks
Parks continously work on maintaining the balance between protecting nature and making it accesible to the general public to explore – in order to generate revenue for new conservation projects. Nature can be made accesible in a sustainable manner through grouped tours (by environmentally friendly transit): minimizing noise and air pollution as well as controlling overcrowding.
The ParkShuttle Group Rapid Transit system further enhances the visitor experience by ensuring all passengers can enjoy (viewing) nature while traveling. Each vehicle can run a customized route, based on the passengers’ interests and/or reported wildlife spottings. Experiencing the native animals of the park is no longer a question of luck (right place, right time), but has become a large chance. By means of a sound library, the system can activate – either automatically or on request – detailed information on both flora and fauna. Optionally a monitor can also be installed.
Electronically guided systems do eliminate one other important objection: the need for elevated guideways. A road-based system, based on electronic guidance, would have the same (visual) impact in a park as cars do. The small foot print of the system would allow the (road and parking) infrastructure in the park to be minimized in reference to the current situation – giving the space reduced back to nature. Each vehicle is equipped with advanced obstacle detection systems, to avoid (wildlife) accidents.
Electronically guided people movers allow parks to approach their accessibility differently, providing park management a new tool to balance nature’s conservation and exploration. By using existing infrastructure the capital and operational costs are minimized, making it an attractive replacement of current mobility in parks.
Optionally the routing of the system could also connect to other nearby locations; towns, lodging and other parks.