A method for transporting a person or a parcel from a first location to a second location involves mounting a pod having a rechargeable battery and a compartment to a first vehicle, moving the first vehicle with the pod mounted to a loading position at or near the first location, loading a person or a parcel into the pod, moving the first transporter vehicle from the loading position to a first exchange point, exchanging the passenger pod from the first transporter vehicle to a second transporter vehicle at the first exchange point by de-mounting the pod from the first transporter vehicle and mounting the pod to the second transporter vehicle by a compatible physical interface between the pod and the second transporter vehicle, and transporting the second transporter vehicle with the pod to the second location.