Mobility in Municipal Passenger Carrying.
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rpms is the time of the year when the pas-1senger-transport reports of local authorities are published, and although those already to hand reflect in the returns the effects of general trade depression, ample evidence is forthcoming to indicate the growing success of the motorbus and trolley-bus in municipal service. Facts and figures make that perfectly clear, but what, perhaps, is more important is the change of front on the part of many officials who have, hitherto, expressed pro-tram leanings. Except in a few isolated instances, municipal authorities are unanimous in the belief that the day of the tram is fast drawing to a close.
Each year witnesses additions to the list of municipal bus operators and a diminution in the ranks of those working tram 'services. This is an inevitable metamorphosis, and the greater becomes the factor of traffic congestion the more pronounced will be the merits of the bus. The future of passenger transport in the big cities and towns lies with flexible units of large capacity and those that assist the free flow of traffic.
A New Use for the Commercial Motor.
/TOE development of the mobile cinema haS opened up a new sphere of use for the commercial motor. Recent activity indicates that a marked degree of interest is being displayed In the possibilities of the widespread employment for publicity purposes of motor vehicles carrying film-projecting apparatus,and it is now possible to purchase a standard, fully equipped outfit at a comparatively low price. Manufacturers, advertising, film and operating companies are combining their special knowledge to exploit the movement.
Authorities who are best qualified to voice opinions on the subject agree that the film, when properly handled, possesses considerable merit as a medium for education. It has, however, been found that, generally speaking, cinema audiences, to some extent, resent the ex hibition of publicity pictures during performances which they attend for the purpose of entertainment and for which they pay, but their attitude is entirely different when advertising films are shown, without charge, out of doers„ One has only to observe the great attraction of a Mobile cinema engaged on political propaganda, and exhibiting quite unspectacular films of everyday scenes, to realize the immense "pull" of such an outfit.
Well-built light chassis with long frames have been found to be suitable bases for mobile cinemas, and here should be an opportunity for increasing the sale o„f forward-control and sixwheel conversion sets. It is essential that suspension should be of the highest order, because some of the equipment carried is delicate. Light chassis possess the advantages of being economical and speedy.
This is but another example of the way in Which the commercial motor can help business, and emphasizes the fact that it is indispensable.
Transport Flexibility Must Not be Lost.
THERE is a grave danger that one of the most is most is characteristics of the road passenger vehicle may be lost by over-rigid stipulations as to routes to be followed, times of operation, limitation of the number of vehicles, and so forth. There are some transport areas, particularly in the neighbourhood of docks, where traffic is constantly fluctuating. On one day a certain route may be congested, and the next day will carry a minimum of traffic, whilst another route has to cater for an excess.
Under such conditions it is essential that public-service vehicles should be permitted to switch from one route to the other. In nearly every town or city where the traffic probleM is important there are certain times during which passenger traffic is concentrated in particular areas, and the public will be by no means satisfied if adequate provisions cannot be made for its travel comfort.
Whatever regulations may have been made or control instituted, let us not lose the value of