Cable Car

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Aerial Tramway, Aerial Tram, Aerial Lift, Ropeway, Gondola Lift, Gondola, Cable Car Station, Cableway Station

Category

Transportation, Transport Facilities, Transport Modes, Travel, Tourism, Concessions

Message / Function

To indicate the location of cable cars, aerial tramways, or gondola lifts

	Source	Description
	Argentina MSV	Side view of cable car suspended from two inclined cables
	Peru MST	Side view of cable car suspended from inclined cable, human figure at window
	ISO 7001	Side view of cable car suspended from inclined cable
*)	VSS 1972	Side view of cable car suspended from inclined cable
	UIC 413	Side view of cable car suspended from inclined cable
	Tern	Side view of cable car suspended from inclined cable
*)	SN 640 827	Side view of cable car suspended from inclined cable
	France IISR	Side view of cable car with four pulleys, suspended from inclined cable
	SWISSTRAFFIC	Side view of cable car with four pulleys, suspended from inclined cable
*)	Erco	Side view of cable car with three pulleys, suspended from inclined cable
	Zermatt	Side view of cable car with two pulleys, suspended from inclined cable
	Ecuador	Side view of cable car with door and two pulleys, suspended from inclined cable
	KSA	Side view of cable car with two pulleys, suspended from inclined cable
	SVI	Side view of cable car with two pulleys, suspended from inclined cable
	PC	Side view of cable car with two pulleys, suspended from inclined cable
	U.S. National Park Service	Side view of cable car with two pulleys, suspended from inclined cable
	Dutchicon	Side view of cable car with three pulleys, suspended from inclined cable
	EJP	Side view of gondola suspended from inclined cable
	Eco-Mo Foundation	Side view of cable car suspended from inclined cable
	Galicia	Side view of cable car suspended from inclined cable
	Zermatt	Side view of small gondola with two pulleys, suspended from inclined cable
	Ski Amadé	Side view of small gondola suspended from inclined cable
	Mi Teleférico	Side view of small gondola suspended from inclined cable
	NPS	Side view of cable car with two pulleys, suspended from inclined cable
	DER	Side view of small gondola suspended from inclined cable
	Tern	Side view of small gondola suspended from inclined cable
	CNIS	Side view of small gondola suspended from inclined cable
	SN 640 827	Side view of small gondola suspended from inclined cable
	Ota	Side view of small gondola
	Kapitzki	Side view of small gondola with human figure

Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.

Discussion

The collection above, which is only a small selection from the wealth of designs available, indicates that there seems to exist a clear visual stereotyp for Cable Car, Aerial Tramway, Ropeway, Gondola Lift, etc.: a side view of cable car or gondola suspended from an inclined cable. Many renderings just differ in some small details which may not be important concerning recognition and comprehensibility. Images without cable are rather uncommon.

A few studies present research covering several pictogram variants for this referent:

The variants labeled *) were tested for comprehension in Austria (Brugger, 1977 b) and were well understood with more than 90 % correct responses. The results of an Appropriateness Ranking Test conducted before with twelve pictograms indicated the importance of showing that the cable car is suspended from an inclined cable (Brugger, 1977 a). ISO 7001 Public Information Symbol PI TF 011: Cable Car was designed regarding the results from these two studies.

In a Japanese study to propose domestically unified graphical symbols based on scientific methods, the pictogram variant labeled as Eco-Mo Foundation proved to be well comprehensible with a comprehension score of 80.6 (Eco-Mo Foundation, 2001). On the other hand, when Fiori (2008) examined an map symbol similar to the pictogram labeled DER in the table above, only 42.6 % of the respondents answered correctly. This study was conducted in Brazil.

Due to requirements of tourism we recommend a differentiation of ropeway systems between reversible aerial tramways with large carriages where passenger usually have to stand, and the detachable gondola lifts with smaller gondolas offering seats for all passengers.

Recommendations

For reversible aerial tramways with large carriages we recommend the use of a symbol like TS0180, TS0181 Cable car / Aerial Tramway from the Tern symbol set.

For gondola lifts we recommend the use of a symbol like TS0184, TS0185 Gondola from the Tern symbol set. Both pictograms shown support the recommended differentiation of ropeway systems, are optimized concerning legibility and therefore fostering inclusion.

Tests of pictograms of referent Cable Car / Gondola

Brugger, Ch. (1977 a): Abschlußbericht über den Reihungstest. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute, Vienna, 1977-07-27.

Brugger, Ch. (1977 b): Abschlußbericht über den Erkennungstest. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute, Vienna, 1977-10-04.

Eco-Mo Foundation (2001): Test data of public information symbols in Japan - Procedure for the testing of public information symbols by the Study Committee. ISO: ISO/TC 145/SC 1 N 329.

Fiori, S. R. (2008): Mapas para o turismo e a interatividade - proposta teórica e prática. Tese de Doutorado - Depto. de Geografia, FFLCH-USP.