Transportation

Duurn is a world with many dangers lurking at the edge of human society. Transportation across long distances is often dangerous, especially in areas where "civilization" has not yet reached. However, the world is becoming increasingly interconnected, and new technologies and improvements in manufacturing processes are pushing rapid changes in transportation.

Modes of Transportation

The method of travel available to or chosen by a person will depend on social and economic class and location, but here are some common methods of travel.

Land Transportation

Within major urban centers, mass transit such as trams and streetcars are widely available. Particularly large cities might have rail lines that connect different parts of the city together. As motorcars become more available, taxi services are becoming more popular for getting to parts of the city not connected by mass transit. For person transportation, bicycles are frequently in use. Though many cities do not have suitable roads, motorcars are becoming more common as personal vehicles, especially among the wealthier strata. In some places, horses and horse-drawn carriages are still frequent sights on the streets.   Between cities, trains are the most common form of land transportation. Most inter-city trains are guarded and armored against attack. Cars are becoming more common for long-distance transportation. Most individuals who travel this way by car will travel armed and accompanied by personal security, if they have the money. Horse-drawn carriages are also still sometimes used, with the same caveats.   In rural areas, motorcars are becoming more widely used, but horses and carriages remain significantly more common. Some rural communities may share a small pool of motorcars, while more wealthy farms will have one or a few of their own.

Motorcars

 

Air Transportation

Aerostats have been in use for centuries as the predominant form of flexible long-distance travel, and that shows no signs of changing. The development of low-pressure buoyancy has allowed for the development of larger and heavier aerostats, with larger carrying capacities. Aerostats designed with that technology are just beginning to enter the civilian market. For now, they are used primarily by larger transportation and logistics companies, though a few particularly wealthy individuals possess smaller models.   Autogyros, which began to appear in the early 1320s, are just beginning to see civilian use, mainly where fast medium-range transportation is necessary.   Aerodynes, which were first designed in the early 1340s, see limited use for transportation where speed is crucial. Some transportation companies have begun to offer aerodyne travel, though limited infrastructure has kept it from being a widespread option so far.

Water Transportation

The open seas of Duurn are closely linked to the Astatoma and are thus very dangerous for travel, so most intercontinental travel is handled by air. Rivers are frequently used for transportation, however, and the coasts are relatively safe. However, with the quality and availability of aerostat transportation, water travel is at best a secondary option.