Would You Ride in These Fancy Gondolas They May Build in DFW?

Have you heard the rumor they may be building some high-tech gondolas in the Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas area at some point in the future?

So, would you ride in one of these?

We've been hearing and reading about different possibilities for alternative public transport options in the headlines. Of course, when we think about where we'd be most likely to see any of these transportation options, we typically think they'll be built in Los Angeles or New York, first. But, with the massive influx of new people into Texas, specifically into our bigger cities, we might be surprised.

And when it comes to types of newer transportation options, we've heard rumors about Elon Musk building a subway in Los Angeles or mini-copters that would occupy lower airspace in our cities--kind of like "air taxis," if you will. And we may yet see those options come to fruition. But gondolas? Hm. That idea hadn't crossed my mind, to be honest.

So, what's the deal with these high-tech gondolas they're considering bringing to DFW?

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I don't know about you, but when I hear the word gondola, I imagine serenading Venetian men in striped shirts and brimmed hats carrying people gently through the watery passages of Venice, Italy. No, that's not what we're talking about in this context.

Last year, there was a report from WFAA that claimed a company called Swyft Cities was exploring the idea. They described their high-tech gondolas as "self-propelled, unlike traditional gondolas, with advanced guidance systems, which the company says leads to faster trips.

The company says their gondolas combine an autonomous cabin with lightweight, fixed cable infrastructures that move passengers at a lower cost and with fewer carbon emissions than traditional transportation alternatives."

Well, that sounds both eco-friendly and cost-effective. Not to mention they look pretty swanky.

A promotional video created for Swyft Cities that was shared by WFAA makes the swank factor very clear. Take a look:

OK, so when are they taking the next steps toward bringing this project to life in the Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas area?

WFAA had this to share about the next steps:

"The Regional Transportation Council for North Texas will invite cities next week to pick their most congested areas for the autonomous gondolas to be built. These cities and the RTC will then work together to determine where in DFW the first Swyft Cities project will be built."

Hmm. I think I would be pretty comfortable riding in one of these--both literally and figuratively. Granted, they won't have the romance factor of the more traditional gondola we likely think of when we imagine Italian men singing to us as we float through the watery canals of Venice. Then again, those probably wouldn't be very helpful when it comes to easing the burgeoning traffic situation in DFW.

But it's a lovely thought, no?