Workers Escape Crowds on San Francisco Ferries
Commuting is often a major issue in America’s big cities. Many people live outside cities, and spend a lot of time just going to and from work. Now, some San Francisco area commuters are beating the traffic by taking ferry boats. A ferry ride can offer a nice change from busy roads and crowded trains.
Ferries are a small but growing part of the transportation solution in northern California. Historic cable cars may help visitors to San Francisco travel around the city. But local people usually use cars, taxis and public transportation, including the Bay Area Rapid Transit rail system. Ferry rider Dan Haggerty really likes the two ferry systems on San Francisco Bay. He says they provide a much more pleasant ride from far away communities.
“It’s faster than the rail transit. And there’s nothing like being on the water in the morning, and coming home from work. It’s relaxing.”
Ferry passenger Christine Loehrlein says the ferry ride is a lot better than the trip she once made by car.
“There is something about getting out of the bubble of being in a car and out into an open environment that’s just so much more social and interactive. And on the ferry, people are really, really friendly.”
Whatever the weather, Bob Bodnar always takes a ferry ride.
“It’s always a good say to ride the ferry. Like I never regret taking the ferry to work instead of the train.”
Ernest Sanchez works for the San Francisco Bay Ferry. He says each boat is like a car pool, with more than one person making the trip.
“Some of our boats can carry, for example, up to 388 passengers, and so that’s one large car pool. We take advantage of the natural road, which is the Bay, and address the problem that way.”
Ferries have been moving people and their vehicles around San Francisco Bay for more than 150 years. The first ferry service was launched in the 1850s. Today, the ferry system includes more than 10 boats. They stop at ports all around the Bay area.
Researchers are developing technology that could make the boats more energy efficient. They have been studying the high-tech sails on America’s Cup racers. A firm wind-wing is a new kind of sail being tested on the Bay. The 14-meter tall device stands upright like a sail, but is made of lightweight carbon fiber. A solar-powered computer helps to control its movement.
Early tests show fuel reductions of up to 25 percent when the wind- wing is connected to a small boat. Tim Lipman works for the Transportation Sustainability Research Center at the University of California at Berkeley.
“You can hold a certain course, to say, have a passenger ferry run along a prescribed course, and simply use the wing where it’s advantageous to assist the boat moving forward, and then let it drift if it’s not advantageous and simply use the motor on the boat.”
Researchers are also exploring the idea of hybrid ferries – boats powered by traditional fuel and electricity. Hybrid ferries with experimental sails are still a few years away in the future. But the current ferries offer a pleasant ride for thousands of people in the San Francisco Bay area. I’m Anne Ball.
词汇解析
issue
难度:5星基本词汇,属常用1000词
英汉解释
n.议题;问题;期刊号;一次发行额;发行;<律>子女
v.发表;公布;正式发给;发行;流出
参考例句
用作名词 (n.)
Parliament will debate the nationalization issue next week.
议会将在下周辩论国有化议题。
The new issue will be divided into four tranches.
新一批发行的债券分为四部份。
用作动词 (v.)
New members will be issued with a temporary identity card.
新成员将配发临时身分卡。
Banknotes of this design were first issued 10 years ago.
这种图案的钞票是十年前首次发行的。
cable
难度:4星核心词汇,属常用3000词
英汉解释
n.电缆;缆;索;电报
v.发电报;(通过电缆)交流;(用缆绳)固定
参考例句
用作名词 (n.)
Cable television has been around for some time now.
有线电视面世已有些时日了。
用作动词 (v.)
News of his death was cabled to his family.
他的死讯已电告其家属。
respond
难度:4星核心词汇,属常用3000词
英汉解释
v.回答;响应;反应;反应灵敏;反响
n.[建]壁联;[宗]应唱圣歌
参考例句
用作动词 (v.)
I invited her to dinner but she did not respond.
我请她吃晚饭,但她未作回答。
The professor lectured with a beaming countenance, but the students didn't respond much, only agreeing with what he said.
教授讲得眉飞色舞,学生们却没有太大的反响,只是随声应和。
regret
难度:4星核心词汇,属常用3000词
英汉解释
v.后悔;惋惜;为 ... 感到遗憾
n.遗憾;抱歉;后悔
参考例句
用作动词 (v.)
I now regret having made a promise that I would join in the scheme.
我现在后悔答应参加该计划的事。
用作名词 (n.)
My only regret is that I have missed the chance to go abroad for further education.
我唯一遗憾的是错过了去国外进修的机会。
natural
难度:5星基本词汇,属常用1000词
英汉解释
adj.自然的;天然的;私生的
参考例句
用作形容词 (adj.)
It is natural that he should fall in love with such a beautiful girl.
他爱上那位美丽的姑娘是很自然的事。
device
难度:4星核心词汇,属常用3000词
英汉解释
n.装置;设备;策略;设计
参考例句
用作名词 (n.)
The data logger device has been fitted to ship's engine room.
数字记录仪装置已安装在船只的机舱里。
upright
难度:3星常用词汇,属常用6000词
英汉解释
adj.直立的;垂直的;正直的
adv.垂直地
n.垂直;竖立;竖钢琴
参考例句
用作形容词 (adj.)
Only humans have a natural upright posture.
只有人类才有自然直立的姿势。
用作副词 (adv.)
Several columns among the ruins still stood upright.
在废墟中依然挺立着几根柱子。
用作名词 (n.)
The piano was nearly always an upright.
钢琴差不多总是直立式钢琴。
carbon
难度:4星核心词汇,属常用3000词
英汉解释
n.碳;复写纸;复本;碳精棒
参考例句
用作名词 (n.)
Carbon dioxide consists of carbon and oxygen.
二氧化碳是由碳和氧组成的。
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