people mover

American  

noun

1. any of various forms of mass transit, as moving sidewalks or automated driverless vehicles, used for transporting people along limited, fixed routes, as around airports or congested urban areas.

2. any vehicle that transports people quickly from one destination to another.

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people mover British  

noun

1. any of various automated forms of transport for large numbers of passengers over short distances, such as a moving pavement, driverless cars, etc

2. another name for multipurpose vehicle

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Etymology

Origin of people mover

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

To bring about long-term change, L.A.’s Metro has been expanding and recently announced it was testing a people mover at Los Angeles International Airport.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

A long-awaited automated people mover train that connects that station to Los Angeles International Airport is expected to open sometime later this year.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

The people mover is scheduled to open in the early summer, said David Reich, deputy executive director for mobility strategy for Los Angeles World Airports.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026

These compromises create the dead-stick handling, latency and hysteresis that typifies your average two-box people mover.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

But other updates such as an electrified bus network, expanded rail lines and the LAX people mover have lagged.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2025