# Aerobus

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For other uses, see [Aerobus (disambiguation)](/source/Aerobus_(disambiguation)).

**Aerobus** is a self-propelled electrically powered bus-like vehicle riding on a suspended overhead cable. The cable arrangement, similar to a [suspension bridge](/source/Suspension_bridge), allows for long spans of up to 600 metres between pylons. The Aerobus system was invented in the late 1960s by Gerhard Mueller of the [GMD Mueller](/source/GMD_Mueller) aerial lift company in [Switzerland](/source/Switzerland).[1] The patents to Aerobus are currently owned by Aerobus International Ltd. of [Houston](/source/Houston), [Texas](/source/Texas), [United States](/source/United_States).[2][3]

## Installations

- 1970 – First test track in [Schmerikon](/source/Schmerikon) ([Switzerland](/source/Switzerland))
- 1975 – Test track sold and moved to [Mont-Sainte-Anne](/source/Mont-Sainte-Anne) ([Canada](/source/Canada)) where it stayed in operation until 1992.
- 1974 New test track in [Dietlikon](/source/Dietlikon) ([Switzerland](/source/Switzerland)).
- 1975 Temporary installation in [Mannheim](/source/Mannheim) ([Germany](/source/Germany)) with 8 cars and 2.2 million people transported in six months.[4]
- 1992 (not installed) - awarded Phase I planning study funding for [Milwaukee County](/source/Milwaukee_County), ([Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin)) Regional Medical Center.[citation needed]
- 2000 (not installed)– Chinese city of [Chongqing](/source/Chongqing) awards a contract to Aerobus for a 2.6 km system with three stations that crosses the Yangtze and Jialing rivers in the downtown area, with pylons up to 300 ft high.[5] This was project was apparently cancelled, as the rapidly growing city installed bigger, more costly transit modes instead.
- 2007 (not installed)– Final approval for construction[6] of a 4.2 km-long installation carried by eight pylons in [Weihai](/source/Weihai) ([China](/source/China)). The system would connect Liugong Island with the mainland city of Weihei, with a large observation-tower station in the center. According to a company spokesman in early 2009 construction was underway on the $100 million Weihai line, with completion originally scheduled for 2011.[7] However the project seems to have been cancelled or stalled as there are no further reports of any progress.
- 2013 (proposal)- Reports indicate that as of August 2013 the company is seeking to sell the system in Quito, Ecuador[8]
- Proposed [Malacca Aerorail](/source/Malacca_Aerorail) is supposed to use Aerobus technology
- Proposed [Phnom Penh](/source/Phnom_Penh) Skytrain is prefer to use Aerobus technology than [AGT](/source/Automated_guideway_transit)[citation needed]

## References

1. [The History of Aerobus International, Inc](http://aerobus.com/history.html)

1. ["Aerobus on track for aerial monorail"](http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2004/04/19/story2.html)

1. [Texas Common Sense: More proof that Metro is out of control](https://texas-common-sense.blogspot.com/2007/03/more-proof-that-metro-is-out-of-control.html)

1. [Aerobus Mannheim 1975](http://www.rothenhoefer-wiesloch.de/bahn/Aerobus.html)

1. Cook, Lynn (November 11, 2000). ["Oh, heavens!"](https://www.forbes.com/global/2000/1211/0325054a.html). *Forbes*

1. [Final approval for completion](http://www.aerobus.com/weihai3.html)

1. ["*In Transition Magazine*"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170705161624/https://www.intransitionmag.org/winter_2009/alternative_transportation.aspx). Archived from [the original](http://www.intransitionmag.org/Winter_2009/alternative_transportation.aspx) on 2017-07-05. Retrieved 2013-04-23.

1. ["A mass transit Swiss option"](http://www.elcomercio.com/pais/transporte_masivo-Ecuador-Quito-Guayquil-charlas-aerobus-transporte_publico_0_977902211.html). *elcomercio.com*. 2013-08-20.

## External links

- [Official Aerobus web page](http://www.aerobus.com)
- [Photos of the Mannheim installation](http://www.rothenhoefer-wiesloch.de/bahn/Aerobus.html)
- [Aerobus by Parks corporate video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esy7QP_YaRU)
- [Aerobus container transportation demo video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaXGrqRRkMk)
- [Promotional video for design of tourist-oriented Weihai Aerobus line & sightseeing tower](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3peHnmYUzk)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Aerobus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerobus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerobus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.