My system would have these sails moving to and fro and people accelerate to them from the curb and break from them in a converse fashion.  Dynamic - riders join and leave.  Hills present a problem - and thats where your powered system would excel.

Instability is the major deterrent to scooters and motorcycles. The second is exposure to weather. Cold weather sure deters motorcyclists! But sooner or later gas prices will have to deter driving cars. The scooter could end up being the choice of the working poor who must still commute. And eventually, the bicycle. Public transit in suburbs will remain unviable for some time if not for good. Bike to buses? Possible.

I've covered the issue of escalating gas prices on ordinary commuters in other threads. I used examples with actual cases with coworkers living gallons away. Any step away from the car is easally called a step down in living standards. You either use up more time to commute or expose yourself to danger or both. (car > bus: time, car > motorcycle: danger, car > bicycle: time + danger)

And is that a pulse and glide result?

I used to walk 17-minute miles for a couple hours at a time, but age has slowed me down to somewhat over 18- minute miles, and usually not for more than 90 or 100 minutes at a time.

Since I've been on Medicare I've still been able to maintain 12 m.p.h. on a bike, but I rarely go for more than 100 minutes without a rest. Indeed, the part of my anatomy that I first become aware of is my rear end, and I stop to rest it usually about once an hour.

For long-distance riding I now use an electric-assisted bike, a Giant LaFree that I'm very happy with, and to do 30 miles on that machine is a piece of cake. Also, when one is biking home into a 15+ m.p.h. headwind, just putting the electric power on and gearing down turns what would be an unpleasant ordeal into an easy, if somewhat slow, ride.

I sail small boats (10 to 23 ft. long, mostly) and use for auxilliary power oars or paddle or 55 pound thrust electric trolling motor. My total out-of-pocket sailing expenses, including costs of towing boats on trailers is about $400 per year, (plus more if I go cruising in Caribbean or Mediterranean, etc.) and I try to sail at least 1,000 hours each summer. Most of the time I sail with a University affiliated sailing club, and once the membership fee ($200 for nonstudents, less a $20 discount for early joining) is paid I can use the boats all that I want. My big expense is driving to and from various lakes--of which there are 10,000 or more in Minnesota. However, only about 500 to 1,000 of those lakes are very good for sailing.

The ice today just finished clearing away from small lakes in southern Minnesota, and so tomorrow I can sail;-)

Or maybe this afternoon . . . .