Driverless Cars

Most people will be living in cities. So they will already be in town. And the cities are getting bigger.
 
I think cars being able to park themselves as well as remove themselves from parking spaces is more than enough and I see it only as a gimmick much in the same way as things like city stop etc. I love driving, I don't really like being a passenger, I would volunteer to do any driving even when going out.
 
ST4 said:
Cities getting bigger, you need a car to get about as public transport doesn't go everwhere.
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Actually it depends where you are. In Switzerland and Netherlands for example the dreaded public transport is fairly decent, apart from the danger of infections ranging from influenza to ebola :p In UK and US it is well and truly hopeless for as long as councils regulate and allow monopoly of the big carriers (pure greed and profiting that is, nothing else).
 
Yes. In the UK, I have seen they let bus companies compete on the street. Where tickets are not always transferrable and companies keep the ticket money. In Munich, Germany for example, the timetable and routes are public, but many busses, drivers and staff are private. Hired in to run the system. They bid to get contracts to fill the system. Passengers will not know which staff of busses belong to which company. The Logo is always the city transport.
 
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daugirdas said:
Actually it depends where you are. In Switzerland and Netherlands for example the dreaded public transport is fairly decent, apart from the danger of infections ranging from influenza to ebola :p In UK and US it is well and truly hopeless for as long as councils regulate and allow monopoly of the big carriers (pure greed and profiting that is, nothing else).
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The problem with public transport is the public and that it runs only at fixed times or late, and will never take you right from your door, right to where you want to go. There is also no status attached to it, and many attach a great deal of that to the car they drive.
 
Imagine having an app on your smartphone that will request the next bus or autonomous car. The latter could take you much closer to your door at the time you request it. Some people will still demand a petrol car they control themselves. But attitudes are changing. Hence my earlier remark about go-kart tracks for the 'older generation'. The younger generation, especially in crowded cities, will be more focussed on using the time they saved not sitting in a gridlock. In fact, very few of my younger friends have a car. Or want one. Attitudes are changing and people will accept new and different things that we fogies have difficulty imagining.
 
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ST4 said:
The problem with public transport is the public and that it runs only at fixed times or late, and will never take you right from your door, right to where you want to go. There is also no status attached to it, and many attach a great deal of that to the car they drive.
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I don't want PT to deliver anyone to their door. That is the reason why it already sucks so badly. It navigates through little residential streets at effective speed of 10mph or less, causes noise and disturbance. It is a pensioner transport, not public transport. What is the problem walking to the main street and getting to your destination quickly? Apparently UK public transport can't handle such a difficult idea.
 
ianp5a said:
Imagine having an app on your smartphone that will request the next bus or autonomous car. The latter could take you much closer to your door at the time you request it. Some people will still demand a petrol car they control themselves. But attitudes are changing. Hence my earlier remark about go-kart tracks for the 'older generation'. The younger generation, especially in crowded cities, will be more focussed on using the time they saved not sitting in a gridlock. In fact, very few of my younger friends have a car. Or want one. Attitudes are changing and people will accept new and different things that we fogies have difficulty imagining.
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I very much doubt my 23yr old son will want to give up his car and my 17yr old son can't wait to get his. Go karting on a weekend will never be a sufficient replacement for my drive to and from work with me in control at the wheel.
 
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But other people are in other situations. I'm sure developers of autonomous cars are not just going to look at your situation. Travelling in first gear, creeping along for the whole journey, might help you see things differently.
 
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daugirdas said:
I don't want PT to deliver anyone to their door. That is the reason why it already sucks so badly. It navigates through little residential streets at effective speed of 10mph or less, causes noise and disturbance. It is a pensioner transport, not public transport. What is the problem walking to the main street and getting to your destination quickly? Apparently UK public transport can't handle such a difficult idea.
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With our awful weather, a car solves the problem of walking in the mugger yielding/dog walker/dog poop infested mean streets to get to the bus, only to catch flu or ebola. Plus no bus/train will get you to Loch Awe at 10pm ;)
 
ST4 said:
With our awful weather, a car solves the problem of walking in the mugger yielding/dog walker/dog poop infested mean streets to get to the bus, only to catch flu or ebola. Plus no bus/train will get you to Loch Awe at 10pm ;)
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Amen. This needs to be sent to the White Hall :lol:
 
The driverless cars are already here.... Google's has now done over 700,000m - with no crashes, & they are now testing a vehicle with no controls at all.

4 states in the US are allowing automous vehicles - its only a matter of time - the tech is already here & works.
 
The government will allow driverless cars on UK public roads from January next year. (BBC)
Phew! We've got a few months before we have to panic then.

Matt
 
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