The Ride of the Future (1977)

The film explores the impact of automobiles on American life, highlighting their convenience and the consequent urban problems they create, such as energy consumption and pollution. It introduces Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) as an innovative urban transportation solution tested in Morgantown, West Virginia. PRT is a driverless, electronically controlled system designed to alleviate traffic congestion by providing a personal, non-stop transit option. The film details the construction and operation of the PRT system, which features small vehicles, guideways, and computerized control, emphasizing its potential for expansion and adaptability to urban environments. Keywords automobile, urban transportation, Personal Rapid Transit, Morgantown, pollution, traffic congestion, electronic control, innovation, West Virginia University, automated transit