Transport
Discover facts about transport. Small discoveries that change the way you see familiar things.
Transport
New Jersey strictly forbids motorists from pumping their own gasoline, maintaining a law from 1949 that claims self-service stations are an extreme fire hazard; back then, gas…
New Jersey strictly forbids motorists from pumping their own gasoline, maintaining a law from 1949 that claims self-service stations are an extreme fire…
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United Parcel Service painted all of their delivery trucks Pullman brown in 1916 because it was the most effective color for hiding dirt and road grime; back then, most roads…
United Parcel Service painted all of their delivery trucks Pullman brown in 1916 because it was the most effective color for hiding dirt and road grime; back…
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Charles Babbage invented the iconic metal cowcatcher attached to the front of steam locomotives long before he became famous as the visionary father of the modern computer.
Charles Babbage invented the iconic metal cowcatcher attached to the front of steam locomotives long before he became famous as the visionary father of the…
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Dutch manufacturer DAF created a small family car in the late nineteen fifties equipped with a variomatic transmission that allowed it to drive backwards exactly as fast as it could drive forwards.
Dutch manufacturer DAF created a small family car in the late nineteen fifties equipped with a variomatic transmission that allowed it to drive backwards…
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Orville Wright was piloting the plane during the first ever fatal aviation accident in 1908, completely surviving the crash while his passenger, a US Army lieutenant, was killed.
Orville Wright was piloting the plane during the first ever fatal aviation accident in 1908, completely surviving the crash while his passenger, a US Army…
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New York City spent over four billion dollars constructing the World Trade Center Oculus, making it the most expensive train station ever built, and its roof immediately began leaking.
New York City spent over four billion dollars constructing the World Trade Center Oculus, making it the most expensive train station ever built, and its roof…
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Skateboard wheels used to be made out of actual clay or steel, turning a simple ride down the sidewalk into an extreme, bone-shattering sport.
Skateboard wheels used to be made out of actual clay or steel, turning a simple ride down the sidewalk into an extreme, bone-shattering sport. Throughout the…
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Henry Ford's very first experimental automobile, the Quadricycle, was built in a tiny brick shed behind his house, but he forgot to measure the door before finishing it.
Henry Ford's very first experimental automobile, the Quadricycle, was built in a tiny brick shed behind his house, but he forgot to measure the door before…
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Tuk-tuks actually originated from Italy, completely shattering the illusion that these chaotic little three-wheelers are a strictly Southeast Asian invention.
Tuk-tuks actually originated from Italy, completely shattering the illusion that these chaotic little three-wheelers are a strictly Southeast Asian invention.…
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Bicycles completely altered human genetics in rural England by allowing young men to easily travel to neighboring villages and court women outside their immediate gene pool.
Bicycles completely altered human genetics in rural England by allowing young men to easily travel to neighboring villages and court women outside their…
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Airport baggage handlers loading animals into the cargo hold of commercial airplanes frequently talk to and reassure the crated pets because the dark, noisy environment…
Airport baggage handlers loading animals into the cargo hold of commercial airplanes frequently talk to and reassure the crated pets because the dark, noisy…
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Commercial airline maintenance crews frequently slap something that looks exactly like cheap duct tape onto the wings and engines of passenger jets right before takeoff, much to…
Commercial airline maintenance crews frequently slap something that looks exactly like cheap duct tape onto the wings and engines of passenger jets right…
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Model T Fords were designed without a fuel pump, meaning drivers often had to drive up steep hills completely in reverse just to keep the engine running.
Model T Fords were designed without a fuel pump, meaning drivers often had to drive up steep hills completely in reverse just to keep the engine running.…
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Traffic engineers design suburban stroads to perfectly combine the high speeds of a highway with the complex hazards of a local street, maximizing danger for absolutely everyone involved.
Traffic engineers design suburban stroads to perfectly combine the high speeds of a highway with the complex hazards of a local street, maximizing danger for…
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Honda Civics from the late 1990s and early 2000s consistently rank as the most stolen vehicles in the United States year after year, completely beating out luxury sports cars and expensive trucks.
Honda Civics from the late 1990s and early 2000s consistently rank as the most stolen vehicles in the United States year after year, completely beating out…
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Pogo sticks were genuinely pitched to the United States military during the early twentieth century as a revolutionary method for infantrymen to rapidly traverse difficult, muddy battlefield terrain.
Pogo sticks were genuinely pitched to the United States military during the early twentieth century as a revolutionary method for infantrymen to rapidly…
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Saudi Arabia finally lifted its notorious ban on female drivers in 2018, ending its status as the absolute last country on Earth where women were legally prohibited from operating a motor vehicle.
Saudi Arabia finally lifted its notorious ban on female drivers in 2018, ending its status as the absolute last country on Earth where women were legally…
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Blaring car alarms are statistically useless at preventing auto theft and exist primarily as a massive noise nuisance for everyone living in the immediate area.
Blaring car alarms are statistically useless at preventing auto theft and exist primarily as a massive noise nuisance for everyone living in the immediate…
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American car manufacturers fiercely opposed the mandatory installation of seatbelts for decades, arguing that safety features would scare customers away.
American car manufacturers fiercely opposed the mandatory installation of seatbelts for decades, arguing that safety features would scare customers away.…
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Freight train horns are federally mandated to be ear-shatteringly loud specifically because drivers keep ignoring flashing lights and getting obliterated on the tracks.
Freight train horns are federally mandated to be ear-shatteringly loud specifically because drivers keep ignoring flashing lights and getting obliterated on…
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Filling potholes with temporary asphalt patches is a Sisyphean bureaucratic ritual that structurally guarantees the road will crumble again in a few months.
Filling potholes with temporary asphalt patches is a Sisyphean bureaucratic ritual that structurally guarantees the road will crumble again in a few months.…
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Modern cruise ships use an advanced stabilization system made of massive underwater fins to prevent the boat from tipping over in heavy seas.
Modern cruise ships use an advanced stabilization system made of massive underwater fins to prevent the boat from tipping over in heavy seas. These…
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Tokyo utilizes incredibly sophisticated, automated underground bicycle parking vaults called Eco Cycles to combat the severe lack of available surface space in the crowded metropolis.
Tokyo utilizes incredibly sophisticated, automated underground bicycle parking vaults called Eco Cycles to combat the severe lack of available surface space…
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South Africa features an obscure history of ostrich riding, a bizarre mode of transportation where humans attempt to saddle and steer incredibly aggressive, prehistoric-looking flightless birds.
South Africa features an obscure history of ostrich riding, a bizarre mode of transportation where humans attempt to saddle and steer incredibly aggressive,…
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