Bronx Zoo Bronx Zoo monorail discussion

[TinoPup]

Has the monorail always operated seasonally or when it first opened was it in operation for the entire year?

It has always been seasonal. This isn't unusual. A lot of zoos in colder climates don't even run their trains or trams in winter. Amusement parks close for the season. I was just at seaworld and their water rides were all closed, even. Quebec's amusement parks are only open June-August, maybe a month on either end at some places, because of weather. This is something that is completely routine and not surprising at all.

I'm glad you feel like that was covered well but it's still not great from a visitors perspective that one of the zoos major attractions is not open and as such a large number of animals cannot be seen. I'm sorry if this banal & uncontroversial statement has caused offence, but I stand by it. I say this from a position of somebody who has visited Bronx Zoo many times (admittedly, not as much as you here, though) and has come away with only positive experience.

Again, from a visitor perspective, it's completely normal. "Uncontroversial"

If it was always seasonal, I have to say I standby my statement that it would have been short sighted to invest heavily in an attraction where so many species can only be viewed for half of the year. It is perhaps short sighted anyway. By the admission of two people on this forum the monorail was built whilst monorails were very popular - well they aren't very popular now! They're often viewed as an impractical, eccentric fad.

In terms of what I expect them to do, it's pretty obvious I expect them to correct it! But I am well aware that the funds are unlikely to be there for that to be done, and I won't criticise them of that.

They aren't as popular in zoos now because the other ones have had to stop running due to upkeep! Something becoming rare doesn't automatically make it unpopular, they are still popular in general. Several US cities have had major proposals to add monorails to their infrastructure in recent years. Airports continue to use them. There are plenty of them in Asian countries. You claim that they're often viewed as impractical holds no water.

Compare it to skyfaris. Those are at a number of zoos across the country, including outside AZA. Bronx's opened three years before the monorail, in 1974, but closed over a decade ago, in 2009. Every year we hear about several skyfaris having mechanical issues and breaking down while riders are in the cars, yet I can't find a single thing about the monorail ever breaking down with people on it.

Why would they "correct" something that has been doing fantastic for 47 years?

I would argue it's technically one of the least popular attractions at the zoo considering it can only be used half of the year! It has a distinct disadvantage over most of their other exhibits - which can be viewed at your leisure every day they're opened!

Alas, I digress..

Your argument would be wrong. It's consistently been their second most popular attraction, only behind Congo Gorilla Forest (which also tends to close/be empty in colder months). The annual number of riders on the monorail is comparable to the number of annual visitors Prospect Park and Queens Zoos get, combined, while being open for 12 months.

As for seeing the animals year round... most of these animals wouldn't be at the zoo if it weren't for the monorail. Having the overhead system allowed the zoo to give these species much larger habitats (which is great for things like breeding, too) where they can safely be mixed. The terrain is otherwise not usable and not suited for people to walk through, and the exhibits are too large for a walking path. The monorail was a great solution to get visitors through this area. This isn't a case of viewing the animals 6 months vs 12 months. It's a case of viewing the animals 6 months vs 0 months.

 

[KiwiBirb]

You also have to keep in mind that the monorail tracks are nearly 2 miles long which includes 2 bridges dozens of feet over the Bronx River. Making an alternative/replacement would be incredibly costly, and many people wouldn’t even use it due to its length (in comparison the route of the Zoo Shuttle, which loops around the entire zoo, is about 1.6 miles.)

 

[Cat-Man]

It has always been seasonal. This isn't unusual. A lot of zoos in colder climates don't even run their trains or trams in winter. Amusement parks close for the season. I was just at seaworld and their water rides were all closed, even. Quebec's amusement parks are only open June-August, maybe a month on either end at some places, because of weather. This is something that is completely routine and not surprising at all.



Again, from a visitor perspective, it's completely normal. "Uncontroversial"



They aren't as popular in zoos now because the other ones have had to stop running due to upkeep! Something becoming rare doesn't automatically make it unpopular, they are still popular in general. Several US cities have had major proposals to add monorails to their infrastructure in recent years. Airports continue to use them. There are plenty of them in Asian countries. You claim that they're often viewed as impractical holds no water.

Compare it to skyfaris. Those are at a number of zoos across the country, including outside AZA. Bronx's opened three years before the monorail, in 1974, but closed over a decade ago, in 2009. Every year we hear about several skyfaris having mechanical issues and breaking down while riders are in the cars, yet I can't find a single thing about the monorail ever breaking down with people on it.

Why would they "correct" something that has been doing fantastic for 47 years?



Your argument would be wrong. It's consistently been their second most popular attraction, only behind Congo Gorilla Forest (which also tends to close/be empty in colder months). The annual number of riders on the monorail is comparable to the number of annual visitors Prospect Park and Queens Zoos get, combined, while being open for 12 months.

As for seeing the animals year round... most of these animals wouldn't be at the zoo if it weren't for the monorail. Having the overhead system allowed the zoo to give these species much larger habitats (which is great for things like breeding, too) where they can safely be mixed. The terrain is otherwise not usable and not suited for people to walk through, and the exhibits are too large for a walking path. The monorail was a great solution to get visitors through this area. This isn't a case of viewing the animals 6 months vs 12 months. It's a case of viewing the animals 6 months vs 0 months.

You also have to keep in mind that the monorail tracks are nearly 2 miles long which includes 2 bridges dozens of feet over the Bronx River. Making an alternative/replacement would be incredibly costly, and many people wouldn’t even use it due to its length (in comparison the route of the Zoo Shuttle, which loops around the entire zoo, is about 1.6 miles.)

Good points well made. I don't want to deviate from this thread any further, so lets agree to disagree.

 

[Astrotom3000]

Characterizing the Bronx Zoo's decisions regarding how it operates the monorail as "short-sighted" when it has outlived every other zoo monorail in the country and has remained popular for almost 50 years is nothing short of bizarre.

One would think the fact that it is STILL operating to this day when every other zoo monorail in the country has gone dark would maybe clue someone in on the fact that the Bronx Zoo is doing something right, but hey, that's just me.

 

[JVM]

As long as this is a separate thread for the monorail now, I do want to express my hopes to eventually ride it someday, not just for the obvious animals but also for its historic value. I'm sure the Bronx has kept track of what is going on around the country and has plans in place for when the monorail ceases to function.