Quote:
Originally Posted by jawagord
Latest on google driverless car.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/cms/binary/9884835.jpg
These aren’t driverless cars; they’re driverless taxis, perpetually in motion and powered by Google’s detailed knowledge of traffic flow, its carefully analysed sense of demand and the knowledge that even on a quiet residential street, people need to get places. Tap a button on your smartphone and you’ll find that the car you need is not minutes away, but yards. It’s worth noting that Google has already invested heavily in Uber, a cab firm that does away with a central office, albeit not yet the driver. It's the ultimate just-in-time delivery system.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/go...s-driverless-cars-change-everything.html |
I noticed in the past that there have been people saying that these self-driving cars would replace public transit.
In my opinion, I don't think it will ever happen. Instead, yes, taxis and car-sharing networks would suffer greatly. Self-driving cars will always be more expensive to buy than regular cars. That means those who cannot afford a car will not afford self-driving cars--plain and simple.
Transit will always be cheaper to commute. Like drivers, people would still have to weigh the balance between convenience and cost to use these cars.
In downtown, roads will always be limited. For the same reasons as drivers, self-driving car users would complain and wanted either widen the roads or other people to take transit to free up traffic. Transit still wins in congested places.
Think about it. If I want to start a car-sharing networking business with self-driving cars, I would price it between car-sharing and taxis. That is assuming self-driving cars have become mainstream.
My two cents.
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