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I don't think anyone wants to solve the hard problems of mass transit, I think people are looking for cheap workarounds. Everyone wants to start the next Uber,

I don't think anyone wants to solve the hard problems of mass transit, I think people are looking for cheap workarounds. Everyone wants to start the next Uber, and this is a major unsolved problem. However, the history of failed private transportation ideas is really interesting, and really detrimental to the stuff that actually works: walkable areas, biking, trains, buses, etc. Hell, there's a suburb outside of Miami that just vetoed a rail project because "self driving cars are right around the corner!" which sure sounds like the flying car predictions of the 50s-70s.

magduf 8y ago
Trains and buses don't really work unless your density is extremely high. Not everyone wants to go between the same small set of points along a linear route. This is one reason why cars are much more efficient for many routes. Personal Rapid Transit offers the decentralized nature of cars, but eliminated many of its problems: having to stop at stoplights, the limitations of human drivers, etc. It can't handle huge masses of people the way a train can, but for suburban use it would really be a lot better than cars, and it would also be a much better option for higher-paying passengers than traditional cabs or Uber/Lyft.