Do you like waiting in traffic? If you say yes or simply don’t mind traffic, then don’t read any further.
If you are bothered by traffic jams, slowdowns, or any other stop and go traffic problem, consider this. Soon, autonomous, or driverless vehicles, will be entering the roadway and yet we have no zoning or traffic provisions to address the potential problems they will create for other drivers.
Most communities’ Main Streets are designed with some type of parking on both sides, with two opposing lanes of traffic. Autonomous, or driverless vehicles, are programmed today for successful angular or parallel parking, but ask yourself what happens when there is no parking space available? Keep in mind that these are logic-driven computer platforms that will most likely take the passenger to the closest possible point to their destination. That may mean passengers will be exiting the vehicle from the busy street, potentially blocking traffic. Stopping traffic for who knows how long!
There is, however, a positive benefit to these new vehicles. I do believe that autonomous, or driverless vehicles, will present new business opportunities for our communities. No one likes to get into a dirty vehicle and as such, car cleaning and detailing will become of interest to the owners of these vehicles. Secured parking areas will be required. Electric vehicles that will need to be recharged or just a place for vehicles to park while waiting for their next scheduled trip. New tourism opportunities will be created using apps and vehicle compatibility platforms. These are just a few of the items that come to mind, but there are so many more opportunities if I just dare to dream.
Lastly, this will have a profound impact on public transportation as we know it. Our communities will need to embrace this new cellular transportation model. Realizing that bus, train, and even aircraft are going to need to reform to what the autonomous, or driverless vehicles, have to offer.
Donald Negley
COP Rural Living
Environments
Babbitt