The picture above was taken from the nycsubway.org web site from their Trolleybus section. This is a Brian Cudahy picture from 1954 showing a Lorimer Street trackless trolley near the Myrtle Avenue El . 58 years ago service was stopped on the small ( 200 unit? ) trolleybus system for which mainly lasted ( most routes except Cortelyou Road) for only 12 years (1848-1960).
Today. chances are getting smaller for New York City to see a trolleybus system or a regular streetcar/light rail system. Overhead technology is becoming obsolete and an "electric bus" does not require wires anymore. Just a good battery or charging station. Light rail, no way because it is expensive and will take away parking spaces.
I thought that trolleybus or light rail service will return to Brooklyn in:
1961 because a report came out explaining about diesel bus pollution, but I was wrong.
I though that trolleybuses and streetcars might come back because of the 1960's environmental movement. But I was wrong.
I though they would come back due to oil embargos in the 1970's and 1980's, but I was wrong.
I thought they would come back because of high oil prices, but I was wrong.
I thought they would come back because diesel bus fumes is the cause of lung diseases in Harlem and upper New York, but I was wrong.
I thought they would come back due to peak oil, but I was wrong.
I thought they would come back due to global warming, but I was wrong.
I thought they would come back to Second Avenue around 1992 because the MTA was interested in setting up a Select Bus Service using trolleybuses, but I was wrong.
I thought streetcars would come back on 42nd Street after various attemps, but was not signed off by the mayor. But I was wrong.
I thought that streetcars would come back on the Brooklyn - Queens waterfront, but I was wrong. Where will we park our cars and it is too expensive!
I guess I just was wrong!
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