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We are collectively spending a lot of resources pursuing self-driving, when we should be spending those resource making mass-transit more viable. Fewer miles dr
by pwinnski 7y ago
We are collectively spending a lot of resources pursuing self-driving, when we should be spending those resource making mass-transit more viable. Fewer miles driven means fewer fatalities, both of drivers and pedestrians.
- benjohnson 7y agoSmall and economical self-driving electric pods could be mass-transit
- csours 7y agoI think a 6 person mini-bus may be a winning format.
- bobthepanda 7y agoSelf driving rideshare is several decades away at the very least, and no one has demonstrated how to get from A to B in an economically viable way. (Uber and Lyft surviving on the good graces of VCs while hemorrhaging money is not economically viable.) Probably more realistic is when existing transport paradigms like the bus adopt self-driving vehicles.
- bjourne 7y agoDo they have to be self-driving? Because if you skip that requirement, e-bikes fit the bill. :) There are also electric velomobiles that are very pod like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CURGm-BcaaM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CURGm-BcaaM Main problem seem to be not protective enough hull so you risk being run over by texting drivers.
- marcosdumay 7y agoDoes the bike appear on demand at your place and disappear from your concern after you take another transport? Self driving pods are a huge gain over the status quo.
- applecrazy 7y agoI agree with you on the need to move towards mass transit but I disagree that more miles driven ~ more accidents. Level 4/5 automation will have the net effect of reducing the amount of accidents on the road. Edit: clarified argument
- pwinnski 7y agoLevel 4/5 automation MAY have the net effect you suggest. Current self-driving efforts don't seem to be taking pedestrians into account very well at all, so that remains to be seen.
- WhompingWindows 7y agoWho really knows what current self-driving efforts seem to be doing? All we know is what data the companies choose to release.
- trianglem 7y agoFrom a naive perspective, pedestrian avoidance seems like one of the easiest problems to solve.
- siddarthd2919 7y agoWhy not do both? It is not one or the other competition.
- pwinnski 7y agoEvery dollar (or hour) spent on self-driving is a dollar (or hour) not spent on mass-transit, so I'm not sure you're correct. But yes, by all means, let's do both!