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Why Autonomous Vehicles Won't Reduce Our Dependence on Cars in Cities

posted by martyb on Thursday December 06 2018, @11:55AM   
from the move-out-to-the-country dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

Phys.org:

The technology of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is progressing rapidly, but have we really thought through how they'll work in reality?

In its report on AVs in Australia, Austroads (the association of Australasian road transport and traffic agencies) paints both positive and negative scenarios for the future.

The positive scenario suggests that AVs could reduce car ownership and use thanks to a fleet of shared and connected AVs. These AVs would roam the city, filling in gaps in the timetables and fixed routes of a superior and cheaper public transport network.

But for this scenario to work, AVs must be shared and not privately owned, and they must complement a robust public transport system that accommodates most trips. These mechanisms are either weak or nonexistent in most Australian cities, suggesting it's unlikely the arrival of AVs will reduce our dependence on private cars.

Shared autonomous cars should be as much fun as riding in the back of a New York cab.

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Original Submission

• Who wants to drive in traffic anyhow? Who wants to drive in traffic anyhow? (Score: 5, Interesting) by Barenflimski on Thursday December 06 2018, @05:45PM (1 child)

  by Barenflimski (6836) on Thursday December 06 2018, @05:45PM (#770743)

  I hope that all of this autonomous vehicle talk truly gets people to rethink their relationship with roads and cars. Its fun to drive into the middle of nowhere. Its not fun to drive into the middle of the city.

  Automobiles are one of the largest expenses people have, and also one of the largest headaches. Once people have traded in their cars, and are spending those thousands of dollars on Uber and Lyft AV's every year, maybe then they will realize that public transportation might not bet that bad.

  Of course, we may see the opposite. Its very possible that we see one and two person cars, driven autonomously, be the only ones allowed on the road, so those big, heavy, SUV's can't crash into them and destroy the paper thin cars.

  Starting Score:	1		point
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• It's that bad. (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 06 2018, @07:13PM

  by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 06 2018, @07:13PM (#770784)

  I can't relax when I am surrounded by human threats. I could get mugged or worse on public transportation.

  I don't want to sit in some other person's vomit, piss, or shit.

  I want my stuff with me. I may have strollers, snacks, a roll of paper towels, spare clothing, car seats, guns, diapers, hand washing supplies, bug repellent, sunscreen, and more. That's just the normal stuff to bring along, not even counting trip-specific cargo.

  I might want to go places when public transportation workers are striking. I might want to go places at odd times, such as 3:00 AM.

  BTW, SUVs are piddly little things. The 18-wheelers and dumptrucks aren't going away.

  Parent