2940: Modes of Transportation - Revision history

82.132.239.130: Undo revision 409032 by 2001:4450:81E7:1E00:ADD6:A33:300F:1CBB (talk)

2026-03-30T03:35:15Z

Undo revision 409032 by 2001:4450:81E7:1E00:ADD6:A33:300F:1CBB (talk)

2001:4450:81E7:1E00:ADD6:A33:300F:1CBB at 00:39, 30 March 2026

2026-03-30T00:39:38Z

Xurkitree10: /* Transcript */

2024-10-03T21:55:48Z

‎Transcript

Kynde at 09:02, 4 August 2024

2024-08-04T09:02:52Z

CategoryGeneral: Added category

2024-07-30T08:46:11Z

Added category

141.101.105.131 at 08:15, 29 July 2024

2024-07-29T08:15:38Z

Paul1764: /* Explanation */ added a description of motorcycles

2024-07-09T17:34:05Z

‎Explanation: added a description of motorcycles

Whoop whoop pull up: /* Explanation */

2024-07-03T13:16:47Z

‎Explanation

Whoop whoop pull up: /* Explanation */

2024-07-03T13:08:18Z

‎Explanation

Tromag at 15:42, 28 June 2024

2024-06-28T15:42:02Z

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 | titletext = My bold criticism might anger the hot air balloon people, which would be a real concern if any of them lived along a very narrow line directly upwind of me.
 }}
-{{TOC}}
 ==Explanation==
 Randall's chart compares different modes of transportation by how convenient and dangerous they are. At the top-left (high in convenience and low in danger) are airliners and trains, as these are both fast-moving vehicles on which many millions of dollars have been spent to make them safer. In the top-right, motorcycles are at the same convenience level, but are rated much more dangerous, since they are easy to lose control of at high speeds, and careless drivers (of cars) can easily hit a motorcycle and cause extreme harm. Things like unicycles (bottom-left) are considered much lower on the convenience scale, being not very fast or easy ways to travel, but relatively safe, while towards the centre, skis are apparently moderately convenient and moderately dangerous, since they are relatively easy to fall on if going fast downhill. Way out on their own in the bottom-right, hot air balloons appear to be unique in being rated least on convenience and highest on danger. Presumably, modes of transportation similar to hot air balloons (like zeppelins and blimps) are left off the chart to increase the gap for comedic effect.

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 | titletext = My bold criticism might anger the hot air balloon people, which would be a real concern if any of them lived along a very narrow line directly upwind of me.
 }}
+{{TOC}}
 ==Explanation==
 Randall's chart compares different modes of transportation by how convenient and dangerous they are. At the top-left (high in convenience and low in danger) are airliners and trains, as these are both fast-moving vehicles on which many millions of dollars have been spent to make them safer. In the top-right, motorcycles are at the same convenience level, but are rated much more dangerous, since they are easy to lose control of at high speeds, and careless drivers (of cars) can easily hit a motorcycle and cause extreme harm. Things like unicycles (bottom-left) are considered much lower on the convenience scale, being not very fast or easy ways to travel, but relatively safe, while towards the centre, skis are apparently moderately convenient and moderately dangerous, since they are relatively easy to fall on if going fast downhill. Way out on their own in the bottom-right, hot air balloons appear to be unique in being rated least on convenience and highest on danger. Presumably, modes of transportation similar to hot air balloons (like zeppelins and blimps) are left off the chart to increase the gap for comedic effect.

@@ Line 141: / Line 141: @@
 ==Transcript==
 :[A chart is shown, where the Y axis is labeled "Convenient for travel" and has an arrow pointing up and the X axis is labeled "Dangerous" and has an arrow pointing right.]
 :[In gray text, "Zone of practicality" points to a large irregular area fitting in to the top left corner of the chart with a gray background.  The following modes are shown in this area, starting with the first few bunched at highest convenience:]

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 {{comic discussion}}
 [[Category:Scatter plots]]
 [[Category:Charts]]

@@ Line 170: / Line 170: @@
 {{comic discussion}}
+[[Category:Scatter plots]]
 [[Category:Charts]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:15, 29 July 2024
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	==Explanation==		==Explanation==
−	~~{{incomplete\|Created by a PEOPLE DROPPING SANDBAGS FROM A HOT AIR BALLOON - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}~~
−
	Randall's chart compares different modes of transportation by how convenient and dangerous they are. At the top-left (high in convenience and low in danger) are airliners and trains, as these are both fast-moving vehicles on which many millions of dollars have been spent to make them safer. In the top-right, motorcycles are at the same convenience level, but are rated much more dangerous, since they are easy to lose control of at high speeds, and careless drivers (of cars) can easily hit a motorcycle and cause extreme harm. Things like unicycles (bottom-left) are considered much lower on the convenience scale, being not very fast or easy ways to travel, but relatively safe, while towards the centre, skis are apparently moderately convenient and moderately dangerous, since they are relatively easy to fall on if going fast downhill. Way out on their own in the bottom-right, hot air balloons appear to be unique in being rated least on convenience and highest on danger. Presumably, modes of transportation similar to hot air balloons (like zeppelins and blimps) are left off the chart to increase the gap for comedic effect.		Randall's chart compares different modes of transportation by how convenient and dangerous they are. At the top-left (high in convenience and low in danger) are airliners and trains, as these are both fast-moving vehicles on which many millions of dollars have been spent to make them safer. In the top-right, motorcycles are at the same convenience level, but are rated much more dangerous, since they are easy to lose control of at high speeds, and careless drivers (of cars) can easily hit a motorcycle and cause extreme harm. Things like unicycles (bottom-left) are considered much lower on the convenience scale, being not very fast or easy ways to travel, but relatively safe, while towards the centre, skis are apparently moderately convenient and moderately dangerous, since they are relatively easy to fall on if going fast downhill. Way out on their own in the bottom-right, hot air balloons appear to be unique in being rated least on convenience and highest on danger. Presumably, modes of transportation similar to hot air balloons (like zeppelins and blimps) are left off the chart to increase the gap for comedic effect.

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 |-
 |{{w|Motorcycle}}s
-|...
+|Two-wheeled motorized vehicles, generally powered by an internal combustion engine.
 |data-sort-value="91%"|''91±2%'': As practical as cars to move between locations, and sometimes quicker, due to the ability to filter in traffic, but generally less comfortable, especially in rough weather.
 |data-sort-value="86%"|''86±13%'': Motorcycles generally move as fast as cars, introducing all of the dangers that come with speed. Having two wheels, rather than four, there's a significantly higher risk of losing control and falling. Being smaller than a car, there's more danger of not being seen in a potential collision. Most importantly, the driver is fully exposed, lacking both the enclosure of a car or truck and all of the safety features that come with it, and has no protection other than any personal gear they're wearing. In consequence, motorcycles have a per-mile fatality rate 25 times higher than cars, leading to many entries in {{w|List of deaths by motorcycle crash}}.

@@ Line 84: / Line 84: @@
 | Rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors.
 |data-sort-value="81%"|''81±2%'': Effective to move between any two points as long as there are landing pads of reasonable size. Can be used to hover relatively still in the air. Speed for utility helicopters is comparable to trains. Very loud, and very difficult to learn to fly.
-|data-sort-value="90%"|''90±13%'': As per {{w|Harry Reasoner}}: "An airplane by its nature wants to fly, and if not interfered with too strongly by unusual events or by a deliberately incompetent pilot, it will fly. A helicopter does not want to fly. It is maintained in the air by a variety of forces and controls working in opposition to each other, and if there is any disturbance in this delicate balance the helicopter stops flying; immediately and disastrously. There is no such thing as a gliding helicopter."
+|data-sort-value="90%"|''90±13%'': As per {{w|Harry Reasoner}}: "An airplane by its nature wants to fly, and if not interfered with too strongly by unusual events or by a deliberately incompetent pilot, it will fly. A helicopter does not want to fly. It is maintained in the air by a variety of forces and controls working in opposition to each other, and if there is any disturbance in this delicate balance the helicopter stops flying; immediately and disastrously. There is no such thing as a gliding helicopter."  While the last {{w|Autorotation|is a slight exaggeration}}, it remains much easier for a helicopter to enter an unrecoverable state than an airplane.
 |Speciality/Recreational
 |-

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 |Mass transit by aircraft
 |data-sort-value="81%"|''81±2%'': Extremely fast travel between population centers for larger groups of people. Less comfortable and more expensive than trains.
-|data-sort-value="16%"|''16±9%'': Extremely safe due to strong regulation and relatively little traffic interactions. However, the few catastrophies that do happen have high death counts.
+|data-sort-value="16%"|''16±9%'': Extremely safe due to strong regulation and relatively little traffic interactions.  Most accidents are also minor, resulting in few if any injuries and no fatalities.  However, the few catastrophes that do happen often have high death counts.
 |Practicality
 |-

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 | A board on four wheels
 |data-sort-value="55%"|''55±2%'': Much slower and less energy-efficient than bicycles.
-|data-sort-value="44%"|''45±13%'': As long as you're not doing mad tricks in a quarterpipe, using a skateboard for transportation carries little risk, other than being struck by other users of the same space. Safety gear is common.
+|data-sort-value="44%"|''45±13%'': As with walking, the primary risks are falling (particularly from a height) or being exposed to some outside danger (such as being hit by a vehicle). Because skateboards can move faster than walking (particularly when going downhill), the risks are somewhat greater, but unless the rider is deliberately doing dangerous tricks, serious injuries are relatively rare.
 |Speciality/Recreational
 |-
@@ Line 108: / Line 108: @@
 | Shoes with a single line of wheels at the bottom
 |data-sort-value="49%"|''49±2%'': Much slower and less energy-efficient than bicycles.
-|data-sort-value="45%"|''45±14%'': As long as you're not doing mad tricks in a quarterpipe, using rollerblades for transportation carries little risk, other than being struck by other users of the same space. Safety gear is common.
+|data-sort-value="45%"|''45±14%'': Almost identical to skateboards, and for the same reasons. The primary danger comes from falling. The potential speed means that falls are more dangerous than for walkers.
 |Speciality/Recreational
 |-