Yellowstone leads the way as US national parks test green transport options, while electric vehicles replace horses in Petra, Jordan
- The US government recently signed a pledge to test innovative travel technologies on public lands, and its national parks have stepped up
- In Jordan, in the Middle East, horses and mules are being replaced by electric vehicles to ferry passengers in the ancient city of Petra
Americans may soon get a better glimpse into a future of green transport by visiting a United States national park, while in Jordan, in the Middle East, some tourists used to being pulled by horses and mules, are climbing into electric vehicles instead.
US Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently signed a joint pledge to test some of the newest and most innovative travel technologies on public lands in the US and improve visitors’ tourism experience.
Under multimillion-dollar pilot programmes, visitors to national parks could see self-driving shuttle buses, electric scooter or bike stations and electric charging stations for zero-emission cars.
New real-time information under development via app would notify visitors about road closures and parking space availability, or provide a step-by-step guide to bus locations or rideshare for those wanting to leave their cars behind.
Yellowstone National Park, which has had a record number of visitors this year, is expected to see some of the most immediate changes, with other sites to follow.