Gondolas in American cities? (restaurant, cost, buses)

[DevanXL]

Seattle News, Weather and Traffic | KOMO Newsradio FM 97.7/AM 1000
A Gondola with a Cherry on Top | citytank

Seattle just had a proposal for a gondola line from the center of downtown to the waterfront of Seattle. It's supposed to cut down on street level congestion and make it easier for people to access the waterfront. 2 years ago an expansive gondola project was proposed from Capitol Hill in Seattle to South lake union to the Seattle center ending at the waterfront. Gondolas have been used as an important form of public transportation in many other cities in the world but I have yet to see them used as more then a tourist attraction here in America. Do you think it can work? Could more US cities see these projects happening?

[kidphilly]

Someone recently proposed one from the Phildelphia Zoo to the Art Museum - not sure it would be financially feasable but an interesting concept as this would afford a tremedous of the city skyline bothouse row and the Art Museum accross the river - this in concept would link with an expanded light rail line that would be submerged at the Art Museum using an old Pennsylvania railroad tunnle tha exists and unused from NW Philly into Center City

But the Gondola would be more a tourist ride than anything and get people to the Zoo easier with great views

[GatsbyGatz]

While most see gondolas as a tourist devise mostly, I think they function very similarly to cable cars of yesteryear, except that gondolas are superior since they're not slowed down by traffic lights. For a city like Seattle, an extensive gondola network would probably rival buses in terms of effectiveness of travel.

[chessgeek]

Stillwater, MN has a tourist oriented gondola on the St. Croix River (which is along part of the border of MN & WI). It has a limited season there due to the chilly winters: open from May to October. Here is a link: Gondola Romantica | Stillwater | St. Croix.

[Sizzle-Chest]

Anaheim tried gondolas, but the ride wasn't very successful so eventually it was removed.

[Inkpoe]

Portland has the gondola. I can remember some of the residents being less than pleased about it that one of them left a rude message on his roof. I don't know if it's still there or not.

Portland's gondola pretty affordable... I don't think Seattle's going to be as affordable.

[annie_himself]

New Orleans used to have one from downtown to Algiers. It was taken down after the Worlds Fair though.

[Hemlock140]

The timing is right for Seattle, with the rapidly increasing mess of the tunnel project and seawall replacement. Unfortunately this would involve a lot of time and expense to secure street use permits from the city. They charge a lot of money (annual fees) to have anything over any street or other public property.
For example, $30,000 a year for a skybridge across a street, $3,000 for an awning that hangs over a sidewalk. This would have to be done with private money, the city would only allow it if it cost them nothing but brought in revenue.

[JerseyGirl415]

You can ride gondolas in Central Park through the Boathouse, it's a restaurant (a very good, but expensive one). Apparently, someone drives it for you and for $30 you and up to 6 people can cruise the lake. Of course, this is a tourist attraction but still pretty interesting.

I'm not sure gondolas would be quick or overall efficient enough for public transportation, unless you made them huge and motorized which would stray from traditional. They really can only work in cities with canals, which is why they're good in Venice. Crossing the Hudson or even the East River with a gondola would not be a good idea.

[18Montclair]

We have gondolas in Oakland on Lake Merritt.