Climate Capitalism

21st Century Bus Stop?

When I first read Candace Lombardi’s article “In Italy, futuristic bus stops to blend practical, chic” about the twenty-first century bus stop, “EyeStop”, I thought I’d stumbled onto a straggler from April Fool’s day or possibly the antics of The Yes Men.

Upon further investigation, it appears that Apple inspired name is not a fictitious marketing spoof ala the iProduct, but an actual collaboration between MIT, the province of Florence and the local transit authority, ATAF.

The “EyeStop” project is part of MIT’s SENSEable City Laboratory which is exploring the “increasing deployment of sensors and hand-held electronics in recent years,” and exploring “a new approach to the study of the built environment.”

Time reporter Michael Grunwald reports that developer and former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys player, Syd Kitson, has unveiled plans for a Florida green community for as many as 45,000 inhabitants.  The plans feature a photovoltaic solar power plant, a smart grid, and a variety of energy efficiency strategies.

Click this link to see Kitson’s feature-filled website for Babcock Ranch - Southwest Florida’s City of Tomorrow.  Other than the overabundance of Segway machines highlighed in the concept video, the City looks very cool.  It will be interesting to see if he can actually pull it off.