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I'm imagining a future where there are self-driving busses that route themselves based on where people are and where they want to go. For a dense urban area, I
by seanp2k2 12y ago
I'm imagining a future where there are self-driving busses that route themselves based on where people are and where they want to go. For a dense urban area, I think this has real potential to increase route efficiency and bus utilization while decreasing crowding and unpopulated bus trips.
- sinatra 12y agoBus routes/schedules influence riders' behavior (People reach a bus stop at the time when they expect their bus to arrive). If buses try to automatically adjust route and timing based on riders' needs, riders will start showing up whenever and wherever they want. That makes me feel that the buses may become less utilized, not more.
- 1971genocide 12y agoI do not think so, Many times bus routes are created without thinking about traffic. An app like that that dynamically updates based on where the "blob" of riders are would be awesome.
- Symmetry 12y agoI think there's a lot of potential for van-sized automated transit systems. Carrying 4 people gets you most of the fuel efficiency savings of a bus but without the big inefficiencies when you've only got one passenger on an unpopular route.
- JMill 12y agoBridj [1] is a Boston startup exploring this opportunity. Here's a recent article. [2] [1] http://www.bridj.com/ http://www.bridj.com/ [2] https://www.bostonherald.com/business/business_markets/2015/02/bridj_ing_gap_between_uber_costs_t_woes https://www.bostonherald.com/business/business_markets/2015/... (I have no association with the company.)