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I think the future is self-driving public transit. I imagine minivans that perform dynamic route optimization. Instead of a bus that stops every block on a pre-
by noveltyaccount 10y ago
I think the future is self-driving public transit. I imagine minivans that perform dynamic route optimization. Instead of a bus that stops every block on a pre-determined route, use an app to input your pickup location and destination and the self-driving van picks you and a few people up from a small radius, and drops people off in a small radius. This will be faster and cheaper than both public transit and even driving yourself (no hunting for parking).
- majani 10y agoUnfortunately, public transit is way less profitable than selling cars to people, so self driving public transit doesn't seem like the top priority, despite having the best net benefit for society
- noveltyaccount 10y agoGood point. I have always imagined this to be government subsidized just like public transit is today. I live in Seattle where we're spending billions laying light rail, and I have to wonder if it's all for naught, if self-driving public transit will make rail obsolete.
- petra 10y agoThat would be great. One problem though: Self-driving tech may offer a very cheap taxi, so many users would prefer not to use shared vans. Heck, to a certain extent we're already in that scenario, with some sharing services are cheaper than cars(@ridewithvia, @ridechariot, and maybe uber pool and lyft line) - and yet people prefer cars.
- remolueoend 10y agoSion (Switzerland) is currently testing a self-driven shuttle-bus in and around the city [1]. [1] https://www.postauto.ch/en/news/start-public-testing-autonomous-shuttles https://www.postauto.ch/en/news/start-public-testing-autonom...