Driverless Cars

White and red Cruise self-driving car with "Self-driver in training" sign on back

Autonomous Cars Putting Strain on Local Governments

As the industry pushes ahead in fits and starts, local officials and first responders are scrambling to develop protocols for handling driverless vehicles.

November 29, 2023 - The New York Times

White and red Cruise autonomous car on San Francisco street with concrete Brutalist-style building in background on grey, rainy day.

California Grounds Cruise Autonomous Fleet

In the wake of serious pedestrian injuries and a federal investigation, state agencies have barred the driverless taxi company from continuing to operate.

October 25, 2023 - CALmatters

Blue and green Waymo logo on black square mounted on grey concrete background

Waymo Expansion Makes Phoenix ‘World’s Largest Self-Driving Car Zone’

The company’s autonomous taxis will soon be available in most parts of the metro area including Tempe, Mesa, and a new airport pick-up location.

May 8, 2023 - Arizona Republic

Self-driving white Waymo Jaguar SUV on street in Chandler, Arizona

How Self-Driving Cars Are Integrating—or Not—Into the Urban Fabric

As they become more common on some U.S. streets, autonomous vehicles are impeding emergency response operations and blocking traffic, idling in neighborhoods, and defying law enforcement.

May 2, 2023 - Arizona Republic

Self-Driving Cars

A Framework for Shaping the Deployment of Autonomous Vehicles and Advancing Equity Outcomes

A new white paper provides a foundation for public sector agencies to approach autonomous vehicle deployment and policy with a focus on equity.

February 15, 2021 - Urbanism Next Center at the University of Oregon

Uber Autonomous Vehicle

Uber's Self-Driving Cars Couldn’t Detect People Outside of Crosswalks

The National Transportation Safety Board has released documents related to the Tempe, Arizona, crash that killed a person, highlighting what went wrong with the driverless technology.

November 13, 2019 - Wired

Big Box Store

IKEA's Autonomous Vehicle Concept Abandons Sleekness for Boxy Functionality

The furnishing giant's concept imagines an app-summoned fleet of "living rooms on wheels" delivering everything from groceries to health services.

September 22, 2018 - Quartz

Student Driver

Treating Self-Driving Cars Like Student Drivers

Eschewing glamor, Drive.ai's self-driving vehicles use bright coloring, insignia, and LED messages to facilitate better interactions with humans on the road.

August 21, 2018 - The Verge

Japan

Japan Targeting 2020 Olympics for a Driverless Car System

Japan prioritizes technological advancement to grow its economy.

June 6, 2018 - Reuters

Self-Driving Bus

Automated Vehicles Pose 'Political Threat' to Transit

TransitCenter's Steven Higashide argues that despite all the hype around self-driving vehicles, traditional high-capacity transit still has some distinct advantages. As long, that is, as transit agencies are willing to recognize them.

May 17, 2018 - TransitCenter

Autonomous Vehicle

One Big Reason Driverless Cars Won't Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled

It's all about the business model.

April 15, 2018 - Vox

Driverless Shuttle

Uber GM for Spain: Driverless Model Will Create Jobs

Despite the fatal crash in Arizona and growing fears that taxi drivers will lose their livelihood, Juan Galiardo says he is optimistic that the transition to driverless will “ultimately be beneficial.”

March 30, 2018 - Cities of the Future

Autonomous Vehicles

Self-Driving Cars' Most Likely Future: Shared 'Robotaxis'

In the wake of a high-profile (and fatal) accident involving an autonomous Uber car, the safety debate is trending. But the broader economic picture still points to a future of shared driverless rides.

March 25, 2018 - The Economist

Automated Vehicle

Florida Proposes an 'Alternative Transportation Authority'

With billions of research dollars at stake, Florida making inroads towards becoming the leader in autonomous vehicle technology.

December 14, 2017 - Modern Cities

Lafayette BART

Op-Ed: BART Should Embrace Driverless Trains

Daniel Borenstein points out the irony that while the Bay Area may be the world's top tech hub, BART has no real plans to consider driverless trains.

November 6, 2017 - The Mercury News

Empty Parking Lot

As a Driverless Future Dawns, Should We Still Build Parking?

No one is really sure how many parking spots the United States contains, but estimates stretch up to 2 billion.

May 23, 2017 - Doggerel

New York City

Are Driverless Cars Good for Cities?

With experts predicting widespread autonomous vehicle (AV) adoption in the not-too-distant-future, many policymakers, designers, and ordinary citizens are left scratching their heads, uncertain of what to expect and how to prepare.

February 22, 2017 - Doggerel

Uber Drivers Are Helping the Company Kill Their Own Jobs

Uber needs only a few more years to start its driverless mobility services. Meanwhile its million-plus self-employed drivers are providing the company with money, data, and future customers before their jobs get permanently ditched.

December 14, 2016 - Cities of the Future

Columbus, Ohio skyline reflected in the Scioto River

Critics Pushing Back on Columbus' Vision of a 'Smart City'

Not everyone is buying in to the city of Columbus' vision for the future of transportation.

July 24, 2016 - Grist

Bus Only

Rebecca Solnit: Public Transit Is Greater Than Self-Driving Cars

Rebecca Solnit writes a pointed criticism of the wave of optimism attached to the self-driving car. Her preference: public transit.

April 11, 2016 - The Guardian

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