10 Thoughts for the Future of Shared, Connected and Autonomous Mobility
Why Now?
- Risks and Opportunities: New mobility technologies present both significant risks and opportunities for cities.
- Proactive Regulation: Active regulatory and policy measures are necessary to optimize positive societal outcomes.
Key Points:
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Autonomous Mobility:
- Partial Automation: The rollout will focus on driver-assisted systems rather than full autonomy.
- Integration with Public Transport: Autonomous vehicles can improve connectivity to public transit and serve underserved communities.
- Congestion: Autonomous vehicles alone won't solve congestion; other factors like ownership patterns and policies play a crucial role.
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Shared Mobility:
- Safety and Hygiene: High-occupancy rides can help alleviate congestion, but maintaining hygiene and public acceptance remains challenging.
- Mobility as a Service (MaaS): Integrating various modes of transport into a single app can enhance convenience and accessibility.
- Business Models: Reimagining business models for shared mobility providers is necessary, with ride-hailing and car-sharing likely to remain viable.
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Connected Mobility:
- Interoperability: A connected vehicle environment requires interoperability to support new mobility services.
- Safety and Security: Connected vehicles can improve road safety but also introduce security risks.
- Flexible Spaces: Flexible transport infrastructure can adapt to different needs throughout the day.
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Accessibility Before Connectivity:
- Active Travel and Micromobility: Promoting active travel and micromobility can revitalize high streets.
- Neighborhood Self-Sufficiency: Encouraging local living and neighborhood self-sufficiency can enhance community resilience.
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Plan for Accessibility:
- Active vs. Passive Travel: Trading longer car trips for active travel and micromobility can benefit businesses and communities.
- Digital Measures: Combining affordable physical and digital measures is essential for effective mobility.
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Interoperability is Key:
- Different Components: A connected vehicle environment involves various components and players.
- Data Streams: Interoperability supports the development of new mobility services and promotes safer, more efficient travel.
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Safety and Trust:
- Road Safety: Connected vehicles can enhance road safety but also pose security risks.
- Physical and Digital Security: Ensuring both physical and digital security is crucial.
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Re-Thinking Land Use:
- Moving Spaces: Shared autonomous vehicles can lead to denser, more sustainable, and productive environments.
- Sprawl Risks: Managing land use to prevent sprawl is critical.
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Potential Policy Responses:
- Outcomes and Responses: There are multiple policy responses depending on the speed of technology adoption.
- Cost Implications: Each response has different probabilities and costs to the public sector.
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Conclusion:
- Sustainable and Liveable Cities: The ultimate goal is to make cities sustainable and liveable while managing transport supply and demand.
- Equal Access: Ensuring everyone has access to transportation opportunities is paramount.
Summary:
The evolution of connected, shared, and autonomous mobility presents both risks and opportunities for cities. Proactive regulation and strong public-private collaboration are essential to harness these technologies for positive societal outcomes. Key areas include integrating autonomous vehicles with public transport, promoting shared mobility services, ensuring interoperability and safety, and rethinking land use. The ultimate aim is to create sustainable and liveable cities that prioritize accessibility and equitable access to transportation.