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

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

The station at Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street will connect to the K Line and C Line and, starting next year, to Los Angeles International Airport’s long-awaited automated people mover train.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2025

The veteran lawmaker argues the elevated people mover — once touted as a marquee piece for the 2028 Olympic Games — won’t help those living in the working-class but gentrifying community.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 18, 2024

The fully automated, three-stop people mover is designed to roll through Inglewood’s downtown and ferry fans to SoFi, the Kia Forum and the soon-to-be opened Inuit Dome.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 18, 2024