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Thursday, August 13, 2009

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"Transportation" redirects here. For other uses, see Transportation (disambiguation).
For other uses, see Transport (disambiguation).

Ximen Station of the Metro Taipei, Taiwan
People walking in front of the bulk carrier BW Fjord
French National Police use several modes of transport, each with their distinct advantagesPart of a series on
Transport
Modes...
Animal-powered
Aviation
Cable
Human-powered
Pipeline
Ship
Space
Rail
Road

See also...
Topics | Portal
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Transport or transportation is the movement of people and goods from one location to another. Transport is performed by various modes, such as air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations.

Infrastructure consists of the fixed installations necessary for transport, and may be roads, railways, airways, waterways, canals and pipelines, and terminals such as airports, railway stations, bus stations, warehouses, trucking terminals, refueling depots (including fueling docks and fuel stations), and seaports. Terminals may both be used for interchange of passengers and cargo, and for maintenance.

Vehicles traveling on these networks include vehicles of appropriate types such as automobiles, bicycles, buses, trains, trucks, people, helicopters, and aircraft. Operations deal with the way the vehicles are operated, and the procedures set for this purpose including financing, legalities and policies. In the transport industry, operations and ownership of infrastructure can be either public or private, depending on the country and mode.

Passenger transport may be public, where operators provide scheduled services, or private. Freight transport has become focused on containerization, although bulk transport is used for large volumes of durable items. Transport plays an important part in economic growth and globalization, but most types cause air pollution and use large amounts of land. While it is heavily subsidized by governments, good planning of transport is essential to make traffic flow, and restrain urban sprawl.

Contents [hide]
1 Mode
1.1 Human-powered
1.2 Animal-powered
1.3 Air
1.4 Rail
1.5 Road
1.6 Water
1.7 Other
2 Elements
2.1 Infrastructure
2.2 Vehicles
2.3 Operation
3 Function
3.1 Passenger
3.2 Freight
4 History
5 Impact
5.1 Economic
5.2 Planning
5.3 Environment
6 See also
7 References
7.1 Notes
7.2 Bibliography
8 External links



[edit] Mode
Main article: Mode of transport
A mode of transport is a technological solution that makes use of a particular type of vehicle, infrastructure and operation. The transport of a person or of cargo may involve one mode or several modes, with the latter case being called intermodal or multimodal transport. Each mode has its advantages and disadvantages, and will be chosen for a trip on the basis of cost, capability, route, and speed.


Human-powered transport remains common in developing countries.
[edit] Human-powered
Main article: Human-powered transport
Human-powered transport is the transport of people and/or goods using human muscle-power. Like animal-powered transport, human-powered transport has existed since the beginning: It has existed in the form of walking, running and swimming. Modern technology has allowed machines to enhance human-power. Many forms of human-powered transport remain popular for reasons of cost-saving, leisure, physical exercise and environmentalism. Human-powered transport is sometimes the only type available, especially in underdeveloped or inaccessible regions. It is considered an ideal form of sustainable transportation.

Although humans are able to walk without infrastructure, the transport can be enhanced through the use of roads, especially when enforcing the human power with vehicles, such as bicycles and inline skates. Human-powered vehicles have also been developed for highly encumbering environments, such as snow and water, by watercraft, rowing and skiing; even the air can be entered with human-powered aircraft.


[edit] Animal-powered
Main article: Animal-powered transport
Animal-powered transport is the use of working animals for the movement of people and goods. Humans may ride some of the animals directly, use them as pack animals for carrying goods, or harness them, alone or in teams, to pull sleds or wheeled vehicles. Animals are superior to people in their speed, endurance and carrying capacity; prior to the Industrial Revolution they were used for all land transport impracticable for people, and they remain an important mode of transport in less developed areas of the world.


[edit] Air
Main article: Aviation

Scandinavian Airlines System MD-80 airliner at Kiruna Airport, SwedenA fixed-wing aircraft, commonly called airplane, is a heavier-than-air craft where movement of the air in relation to the wings is used to generate lift. The term is used to distinguish from rotary-wing aircraft, where the movement of the lift surfaces relative to the air generates lift. A gyroplane is both fixed-wing and rotary-wing. Fixed-wing aircraft range from small trainers and recreational aircraft to large airliners and military cargo aircraft.

Two necessities for aircraft are air flow over the wings for lift, and an area for landing. The majority of aircraft also need an airport with the infrastructure to receive maintenance, restocking, refueling and for the loading and unloading of crew, cargo and passengers. While the vast majority of aircraft land and take off on land, some are capable of take off and landing on ice, snow and calm water.

The aircraft is the second fastest method of transport, after the rocket. Commercial jets can reach up to 875 kilometres per hour (544 mph), single-engine aircraft 175 kilometres per hour (109 mph). Aviation is able to quickly transport people and limited amounts of cargo over longer distances, but incur high costs and energy use; for short distances or in inaccessible places helicopters can be used.[1] WHO estimates that up to 500,000 people are on planes at any time.[2]


InterCityExpress, a German high-speed passenger train
[edit] Rail
Main article: Rail transport
Rail transport is where train runs along a two parallel steel rails, known as a railway or railroad. The rails are anchored perpendicular to ties (or sleepers) of timber, concrete or steel, to maintain a consistent distance apart, or gauge. The rails and perpendicular beams are placed on a foundation made of concrete, or compressed earth and gravel in a bed of ballast. Alternative methods include monorail and maglev.

A train consists of one or more connected vehicle that run on the rails. Propulsion is commonly provided by a locomotive, that hauls a series of unpowered cars, that can carry passengers or freight. The locomotive can be powered by steam, diesel or by electricity supplied by a trackside systems. Alternatively, some or all the cars can be powered, known as a multiple unit. Also, a train can be powered by horses, cables, gravity, pneumatics and gas turbines. Railed vehicles move with much less friction than rubber tires on paved roads, making trains more energy efficient, though not as efficient as ships.

Intercity trains are long-haul services connecting cities;[3] modern high-speed rail is capable of speeds up to 350 km/h (220 mph), but this requires specially-built track. Regional and commuter trains feed cities from suburbs and surrounding areas, while intra-urban transport is performed by high-capacity tramways and rapid transits, often making up the backbone of a city's public transport. Freight trains traditionally used box cars, requiring manual loading and unloading of the cargo. Since the 1960s, container trains have become the dominant solution for general freight, while large quantities of bulk are transported by dedicated trains.


[edit] Road
Main article: Road transport

Interstate 80 near Berkeley, California, United States.A road is an identifiable route, way or path between two or more places.[4] Roads are typically smoothed, paved, or otherwise prepared to allow easy travel;[5] though they need not be, and historically many roads were simply recognizable routes without any formal construction or maintenance.[6] In urban areas, roads may pass through a city or village and be named as streets, serving a dual function as urban space easement and route.[7]

The most common road vehicle is the automobile; a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor. Other users of roads include buses, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians. As of 2002, there were 590 million automobiles worldwide.

Automobiles offer high flexibility and with low capacity, but are deemed with high energy and area use, and the main source of noise and air pollution in cities; buses allow for more efficient travel at the cost of reduced flexibility.[8] Road transport by truck is often the initial and final stage of freight transport.


[edit] Water
Main article: Ship transport

Automobile ferry in CroatiaWater transport is the process of transport a watercraft, such as a barge, boat, ship or sailboat, makes over a body of water, such as a sea, ocean, lake, canal or river. The need for buoyancy unites watercraft, and makes the hull a dominant aspect of its construction, maintenance and appearance.

In the 1800s the first steam ships were developed, using a steam engine to drive a paddle wheel or propeller to move the ship. The steam was produced using wood or coal. Now most ships have an engine using a slightly refined type of petroleum called bunker fuel. Some specialized ships, such as submarines, use nuclear power to produce the steam. Recreational or educational craft still use wind power, while some smaller craft use internal combustion engines to drive one or more propellers, or in the case of jet boats, an inboard water jet. In shallow draft areas, hovercraft are propelled by large pusher-prop fans.

Although slow, modern sea transport is a highly effective method of transporting large quantities of non-perishable goods. Transport by water is significantly less costly than air transport for trans-continental shipping;[9] short sea shipping and ferries remain viable in coastal areas.[10][11]


Trans-Alaska Pipeline for crude oil
[edit] Other
Pipeline transport sends goods through a pipe, most commonly liquid and gases are sent, but pneumatic tubes can send solid capsules using compressed air. Any chemically stable liquid or gas can be sent through a pipeline. Short-distance systems exist for sewage, slurry, water and beer, while long-distance networks are used for petroleum and natural gas.

Cable transport is a broad mode where vehicles are pulled by cables instead of an internal power source. It is most commonly used at steep gradient. Typical solutions include aerial tramway, elevators, escalator and ski lifts; some of these are also categorized as conveyor transport.

Spaceflight is transport out of Earth's atmosphere into outer space by means of a spacecraft. While large amounts of research have gone into technology, it is rarely used except to put satellites into orbit, and conduct scientific experiments. However, man has landed on the moon, and probes have been sent to all the planets of the Solar System.


[edit] Elements

Bridges, such as Golden Gate Bridge, allow roads and railways to cross bodies of water
[edit] Infrastructure
Main article: Infrastructure
Infrastructure is the fixed installations that allow a vehicle to operate. It consists of both a way, terminal and facilities for parking and maintenance. For rail, pipeline, road and cable transport, the entire way the vehicle travels must be built up. Air and water craft are able to avoid this, since the airway and seaway do not need to be built up. However, they require fixed infrastructure at terminals.

Terminals such as airports, ports and stations, are locations were passengers and freight can be transferred from one vehicle or mode to another. For passenger transport, terminals are integrating different modes to allow riders to interchange to take advantage of each mode's advantages. For instance, airport rail links connect airports to the city centers and suburbs. The terminals for automobiles are parking lots, while buses and coaches can operates from simple stops.[12] For freight, terminals act as transshipment points, though some cargo is transported directly from the point of production to the point of use.

The financing of infrastructure can either be public or private. Transport is often a natural monopoly and a necessity for the public; roads, and in some countries railways and airports are funded through taxation. New infrastructure projects can involve large spendings, and are often financed through debt. Many infrastructure owners therefore impose usage fees, such as landing fees at airports, or toll plazas on roads. Independent of this, authorities may impose taxes on the purchase or use of vehicles.


A Peugeot 206 participating in the World Rally Championship
[edit] Vehicles
Main article: Vehicle
A vehicle is any non-living device that is used to move people and goods. Unlike the infrastructure, the vehicle moves along with the cargo and riders. Vehicles that do not operate on land, are usually called crafts. Unless being pulled by a cable or muscle-power, the vehicle must provide its own propulsion; this is most commonly done through a steam engine, combustion engine, electric motor, a jet engine or a rocket, though other means of propulsion also exist. Vehicles also need a system of converting the energy into movement; this is most commonly done through wheels, propellers and pressure.

Vehicles are most commonly staffed by a driver. However, some systems, such as people movers and some rapid transits, are fully automated. For passenger transport, the vehicle must have a compartment for the passengers. Simple vehicles, such as automobiles, bicycles or simple aircraft, may have one of the passengers as a driver.


[edit] Operation

Incheon International Airport, South KoreaPrivate transport is only subject to the owner of the vehicle, who operates the vehicle themselves. For public transport and freight transport, operations are done through private enterprise or by governments. The infrastructure and vehicles may be owned and operated by the same company, or they may be operated by different entities. Traditionally, many countries have had a national airline and national railway. Since the 1980s, many of these have been privatized. International shipping remains a highly competitive industry with little regulation,[13] but ports can be public owned.[14]


[edit] Function
Relocation of travelers and cargo are the most common uses of transport. However, other uses exist, such as the strategic and tactical relocation of armed forces during warfare, or the civilian mobility construction or emergency equipment.


Borivali station platform numbers 3 and 4 during peak hours(8-9 a.m.). Note the crowd waiting on the left platform. From this platform trains depart for Churchgate, where the offices are located. Location: Borivali Station, Mumbai, India
[edit] Passenger
Main article: Travel
Passenger transport, or travel, is divided into public and private transport. Public is scheduled services on fixed routes, while private is vehicles that provide ad hoc services at the riders desire. The latter offers better flexibility, but has lower capacity, and a higher environmental impact. Travel may be as part of daily commuting, for business, leisure or migration.

Short-haul transport is dominated by the automobile and mass transit. The latter consists of buses in rural and small cities, supplemented with commuter rail, trams and rapid transit in larger cities. Long-haul transport involves the use of the automobile, trains, coaches and aircraft, the last of which have become predominantly used for the longest, including intercontinental, travel. Intermodal passenger transport is where a journey is performed through the use of several modes of transport; since all human transport normally starts and ends with walking, all passenger transport can be considered intermodal. Public transport may also involve the intermediate change of vehicle, within or across modes, at a transport hub, such as a bus or railway station.

Taxis and Buses can be found on both ends of Public Transport spectrum, whereas Buses remain the cheaper mode of transport but are not necessarily flexible, and Taxis being very flexible but more expensive. In the middle is Demand responsive transport offering flexibility whilst remaining affordable.

International travel may be restricted for some individuals due to legislation and visa

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Sunday, August 2, 2009

most pleasent car never seen






Financial Strength
In the last few years, consumers have watched a number of banks, including the big guys, go under because they weren’t managing their money correctly. The same type of thing can happen to an auto insurance company. If their financials aren’t strong, they’re not going to be around very long and the paying policyholders will be left high and dry without insurance coverage or anyone to pay for claims for damages. Checking the financial strength of a company will help prevent any surprise bankruptcies or other failings.

Companies, such as insurance agencies, should have their finances available for public view, especially when they are a publicly traded company. One easy way to check on a company’s financial stability is by looking at a third-party evaluator, such as A.M. Best. They review companies and determine their financial abilities from an unbiased and outside point of view. Included in their long list of findings are the results of car insurance companies and their financial status. A.M. Best uses a ranking system for each company they evaluate. Their rating system uses letters similar to grade school markings, and they range from A++ (superior) on down through D (poor). These letters indicate the ability they have to meet their responsibility to policyholders and consumers should aim for a company with no lower than a B+ rating, as emphasized by experts. Sticking with a company that is found to be secure with their finances will make sure all finances will run smoothly when a policyholder needs to file a claim.

Review Coverage Terms
It’s possible for Company A to provide the same type of coverage as Company B, but the fine print may be slightly different. For example, Company A may only provide coverage for when the damage is not weather related and Company B may cover damage no matter what the culprit was. Company C may provide a wider variety of coverage options or amounts compared to Company A, even though Company A’s prices are lower. It sounds confusing, but it’s helpful to know all of the little details when comparing companies. It’s usually the details that make a company great.

Talk To Everyone
Find out about an insurer by talking to people who have car insurance. Inquire about the company used, satisfaction levels of filing a claim and how the customer service representatives are. Do they think their premium charge is fair? How long is their policy period? How strict is the company about paying before the due date? Is the company an overall good company to use? Trusted family and friends will be the people to take the most interest in, but other people’s experiences can add in as well to support findings. Another person to talk to is the customer service agent of the local body shop. They will know which insurance companies are easy to deal with and who gives the best coverage with the least amount of hassle. Body shops are always repairing accident damages and dealing with insurance companies to get payment.

To get a better idea of an insurer’s customer service habits, anyone can check JD Power’s website and look at their ratings. They work similarly to AM Best mentioned earlier. JD Power evaluates insurers (and other industries) on their ability to provide a positive experience for their customers. They evaluate areas such as bill pay and overall customer service. While asking a few people and forming an opinion, this third-party company takes hundreds of opinions and puts them together for final findings, which can be thought of as pretty accurate.

One more place to check out a provider is to go the local State Department of Insurance. They have listings of which insurer is up to par and which one should be avoided. People are allowed to file complaints with some state’s Department of Insurance, and by checking with them first a common problem experienced by other policyholders can be avoided.

Each company will have their pros and cons, and many of them will be similar. It’s when there are many similar findings between companies that consumers should take a closer look into who the company really is and what they really offer. As mentioned earlier, it’s the details that typically count the most when looking for the best rated auto insurance company. And, it’s okay for policyholders to be picky about what they want in an insurance policy. There are enough companies out there who want business that they can be pretty flexible at times

most used service


Comparing Best Rated Auto Insurance Companies?

Anyone who is dissatisfied with the way they have been treated by their current car insurance company should never hesitate to search for a new one. Other reasons to find a new insurer is if what they are paying doesn’t match up to what other local residents are paying when their policies are pretty similar, or when a person is moving to a new state. Conducting an analysis of the local auto insurance providers is the best way to know which company is going to offer the best experience, in addition to price.

Not everyone focuses on only getting the best or lowest price in town. To some drivers, getting a policy from the best insurer is what matters, even more than saving a few dollars to go with another company with a lower price. The need to have a great insurer stems from people either having a bad experience in the past or hearing of someone who had a bad experience. There also could be other reasons, such as the need to have a very financially sound company or finding someone who will work with the policyholder one on one. We’ve listed a few reasons why people will pass over a lower price for a company that seems to be better or of a higher quality.

Get a list of local insurers by using our quote comparison tool. This helps in two ways; one, it locates the local insurers willing to provide insurance, and two, it shows the prices they are offering side by side so price is no longer a question or issue. Take the companies that are listed with the quotes (and any others that are popular but aren’t found on the list) and start comparing those.

Financial Strength
In the last few years, consumers have watched a number of banks, including the big guys, go under because they weren’t managing their money correctly. The same type of thing can happen to an auto insurance company. If their financials aren’t strong, they’re not going to be around very long and the paying policyholders will be left high and dry without insurance coverage or anyone to pay for claims for damages. Checking the financial strength of a company will help prevent any surprise bankruptcies or other failings.

Companies, such as insurance agencies, should have their finances available for public view, especially when they are a publicly traded company. One easy way to check on a company’s financial stability is by looking at a third-party evaluator, such as A.M. Best. They review companies and determine their financial abilities from an unbiased and outside point of view. Included in their long list of findings are the results of car insurance companies and their financial status. A.M. Best uses a ranking system for each company they evaluate. Their rating system uses letters similar to grade school markings, and they range from A++ (superior) on down through D (poor). These letters indicate the ability they have to meet their responsibility to policyholders and consumers should aim for a company with no lower than a B+ rating, as emphasized by experts. Sticking with a company that is found to be secure with their finances will make sure all finances will run smoothly when a policyholder needs to file a claim.

Review Coverage Terms
It’s possible for Company A to provide the same type of coverage as Company B, but the fine print may be slightly different. For example, Company A may only provide coverage for when the damage is not weather related and Company B may cover damage no matter what the culprit was. Company C may provide a wider variety of coverage options or amounts compared to Company A, even though Company A’s prices are lower. It sounds confusing, but it’s helpful to know all of the little details when comparing companies. It’s usually the details that make a company great.

Talk To Everyone
Find out about an insurer by talking to people who have car insurance. Inquire about the company used, satisfaction levels of filing a claim and how the customer service representatives are. Do they think their premium charge is fair? How long is their policy period? How strict is the company about paying before the due date? Is the company an overall good company to use? Trusted family and friends will be the people to take the most interest in, but other people’s experiences can add in as well to support findings. Another person to talk to is the customer service agent of the local body shop. They will know which insurance companies are easy to deal with and who gives the best coverage with the least amount of hassle. Body shops are always repairing accident damages and dealing with insurance companies to get payment.

To get a better idea of an insurer’s customer service habits, anyone can check JD Power’s website and look at their ratings. They work similarly to AM Best mentioned earlier. JD Power evaluates insurers (and other industries) on their ability to provide a positive experience for their customers. They evaluate areas such as bill pay and overall customer service. While asking a few people and forming an opinion, this third-party company takes hundreds of opinions and puts them together for final findings, which can be thought of as pretty accurate.

One more place to check out a provider is to go the local State Department of Insurance. They have listings of which insurer is up to par and which one should be avoided. People are allowed to file complaints with some state’s Department of Insurance, and by checking with them first a common problem experienced by other policyholders can be avoided.

Each company will have their pros and cons, and many of them will be similar. It’s when there are many similar findings between companies that consumers should take a closer look into who the company really is and what they really offer. As mentioned earlier, it’s the details that typically count the most when looking for the best rated auto insurance company. And, it’s okay for policyholders to be picky about what they want in an insurance policy. There are enough companies out there who want business that they can be pretty flexible at times

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