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Self driving cars take way more space than equivalent mass transit. Even assuming that self driving cars double road capacity, highways have much lower capacity

Self driving cars take way more space than equivalent mass transit. Even assuming that self driving cars double road capacity, highways have much lower capacity than mass transit. There are advantages to self driving cars to be sure, and they will change the transportation game, but I predict they will not fundamentally alter the city vs. suburb equation. For starters, it is highly unlikely the urban planning mistakes of the 60s where downtowns were flattened with freeways will be repeated. We're already seeing cities tear down or bury existing freeways to correct these mistakes. Cities from LA to Atlanta are investing in mass transit and are working on getting more walkable and dense. I predict that self driving cars will actually be a big boon for cities themselves as it would now be easier for city dwellers to visit transit inaccessible destinations or shopping trips that require a car. Zipcar, Car2Go, Enterprise's car rental club and the like are already bridging the gap, but self driving cars would help those who can't drive such as children or the elderly or even those who never learned to drive.

criddell 11y ago
I think SDCs are going to revolutionize the public transit business too. Light rail makes a lot of sense in certain places. It's incredibly expensive though, but worth subsidizing. Buses though, are mostly failures. If you look at the numbers for buses, you see they are traveling empty far too often. I think it makes more sense for public transit to operate on a fleet of smaller vans. You go to a stop, hail a ride, and a shared ride pulls up and takes you to your destination, making stops along the way. I think fixed routes running even when there are no passengers is ripe for an upgrade.
UVB-76 11y ago
I think self-driving cars could more than double road capacity, and almost eliminate congestion. There are so many exciting permutations. Major causes of congestion could be almost entirely eliminated (breakdowns and accidents) Vehicles could be routed more efficiently, and dynamic road tolls used to keep traffic flowing on popular routes. On-street parking could be eliminated, as fewer people will own their own cars, or their cars will be able to park themselves elsewhere. Meanwhile the absence of human drivers (and exhaust emissions, once we move to all-electric vehicles) will see a step-change in the take-up of cycling and walking in urban centres. This is just scraping the surface. Self-driving cars are going to change everything.

criddell 11y ago

I think SDCs are going to revolutionize the public transit business too. Light rail makes a lot of sense in certain places. It's incredibly expensive though, but worth subsidizing. Buses though, are mostly failures. If you look at the numbers for buses, you see they are traveling empty far too often. I think it makes more sense for public transit to operate on a fleet of smaller vans. You go to a stop, hail a ride, and a shared ride pulls up and takes you to your destination, making stops along the way. I think fixed routes running even when there are no passengers is ripe for an upgrade.

UVB-76 11y ago

I think self-driving cars could more than double road capacity, and almost eliminate congestion. There are so many exciting permutations. Major causes of congestion could be almost entirely eliminated (breakdowns and accidents) Vehicles could be routed more efficiently, and dynamic road tolls used to keep traffic flowing on popular routes. On-street parking could be eliminated, as fewer people will own their own cars, or their cars will be able to park themselves elsewhere. Meanwhile the absence of human drivers (and exhaust emissions, once we move to all-electric vehicles) will see a step-change in the take-up of cycling and walking in urban centres. This is just scraping the surface. Self-driving cars are going to change everything.