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I do believe that human drivers are a huge problem on the road, and that self-driving cars are the future. However - Something needs to be done about thet fact

by codemac 11y ago

I do believe that human drivers are a huge problem on the road, and that self-driving cars are the future. However - Something needs to be done about thet fact that generally people who are poorer have to commute further with less [0] and that if they can afford to move to a neighborhood that fixes their commute problem, they are more likely to come out of poverty [1]. We need this to not be the next tesla, but the next bus. [0]: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/07/upshot/transportation-emerges-as-crucial-to-escaping-poverty.html?abt=0002&abg=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/07/upshot/transportation-emer... [1]: http://www.equality-of-opportunity.org/images/nbhds_exec_summary.pdf http://www.equality-of-opportunity.org/images/nbhds_exec_sum...

TTPrograms 11y ago
Distributed auto-routing smaller busses should cut costs drastically, so this should be very feasible either if implemented commercially or as a commercial service. I have to imagine that paying the bus driver is generally the largest cost for a single bus in any given public transportation system, and being able to route directly during periods of lower traffic (or high traffic even) should be much more efficient in terms of time. Hell I bet Uber could implement scheduled ride sharing and be competitive with public transport on cost now in many cities. 4 people get grouped with the most similar commute and split a $15 fare? That gets you pretty close.
jessaustin 11y ago
ISTM that a fleet of self-driving cars will serve everyone it can. Every car will try to stay occupied as much as possible. Perhaps this means that service will cost a lot during Friday rush hour and very little at 4 AM on Wednesday. In that case the poor may just decide to travel at nontraditional times. [EDIT:] to clarify, the phrase "just decide" is more of a medium-term phenomenon than a short-term one, and elides a great deal of noteworthy human experience. Of course, being disadvantaged often means one can't make sudden changes to one's routine. The poor are not stupid, however. When using short-term self-driving cars is cheaper than owning "clunkers", they'll sell the clunkers and figure out how best to integrate self-driving cars into their lives.
- mkaziz 11y ago
  Unless the poor have 9-5 jobs too - then they're screwed.
  - jessaustin 11y ago
    Well, they are, anyway. However, there are usually compromises to be made, and self-driving cars will be another option. Besides, commuting to work is not the only reason people in USA drive.
- Osmium 11y ago
  > In that case the poor may just decide to travel at nontraditional times. I don't mean to single out your comment (the core idea of which I agree with), but I see similar comments on HN a lot. Completely logical, technical observations that are also quite tone deaf. To those in poverty, there's often very little they can "just decide" to do. The ability to commute at nontraditional times is very much a luxury to most.

by codemac 11y ago

TTPrograms 11y ago

Distributed auto-routing smaller busses should cut costs drastically, so this should be very feasible either if implemented commercially or as a commercial service. I have to imagine that paying the bus driver is generally the largest cost for a single bus in any given public transportation system, and being able to route directly during periods of lower traffic (or high traffic even) should be much more efficient in terms of time. Hell I bet Uber could implement scheduled ride sharing and be competitive with public transport on cost now in many cities. 4 people get grouped with the most similar commute and split a $15 fare? That gets you pretty close.

jessaustin 11y ago

ISTM that a fleet of self-driving cars will serve everyone it can. Every car will try to stay occupied as much as possible. Perhaps this means that service will cost a lot during Friday rush hour and very little at 4 AM on Wednesday. In that case the poor may just decide to travel at nontraditional times. [EDIT:] to clarify, the phrase "just decide" is more of a medium-term phenomenon than a short-term one, and elides a great deal of noteworthy human experience. Of course, being disadvantaged often means one can't make sudden changes to one's routine. The poor are not stupid, however. When using short-term self-driving cars is cheaper than owning "clunkers", they'll sell the clunkers and figure out how best to integrate self-driving cars into their lives.

mkaziz 11y ago
Unless the poor have 9-5 jobs too - then they're screwed.
- jessaustin 11y ago
  Well, they are, anyway. However, there are usually compromises to be made, and self-driving cars will be another option. Besides, commuting to work is not the only reason people in USA drive.
Osmium 11y ago
> In that case the poor may just decide to travel at nontraditional times. I don't mean to single out your comment (the core idea of which I agree with), but I see similar comments on HN a lot. Completely logical, technical observations that are also quite tone deaf. To those in poverty, there's often very little they can "just decide" to do. The ability to commute at nontraditional times is very much a luxury to most.