Transportation Mass transportation has finally become a reality. The financial good times have contributed to availability of funds to buy the land needed for rail lines and additional highway lanes used for Personal Rapid Transit and automated lanes. To reduce congestion, some cities have closed off the inner city to car traffic. Monorails and Personal Rapid Transit provide transportation around the inner city. Enclosed moving sidewalks and bicycle lanes also aid in getting across downtowns quickly.
More space is open for inner city parks and green areas adding the pleasure of being downtown.
Many people prefer to walk because of the health benefits, and it has become so much more enjoyable to be walking downtown without automobile emissions, congestion and noise. The light rail systems between cities and into downtowns have become a wonderful pleasure experience after the advent of shopping centers around the train stations and expanded entertainment and services available on the trains. On the trains, one can play virtual reality games in the arcade, get a haircut or massage, or attend aerobics or yoga classes. For those who prefer to be in a less communal atmosphere, automated car lanes are available for use with one's own car or one for hire. These cars come equipped with car offices to provide more productive use of time while in transit, or the cars can be used for rest or entertainment such as watching a movie while traveling.