US cities turn to gondolas as a means of transport for commuters

New York

THEY would seem more at home in Switzerland, zipping up the side of the Alps. But suddenly, American cities from Albany, New York, to Austin, Texas, are pinning their hopes on, of all things, gondolas.

The allure is not just speed. Gondolas do not contribute to greenhouse gases, and they soar over clogged highways and baulky subway signals. They are relatively fast and cheap to build. And unlike most forms of transportation, they offer singular vistas that attract tourism as well.