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Dear Editor, I realize that your time is precious, and you may feel that it isn’t worth reading. So, I ask you a simple question before you stop: Do you like waiting in traffic? If you say yes or simply don’t mind traffic, then don’t read any further.
But 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 as such we have no zoning or traffic provisions to address the potential problems, they will create for us human drivers.
Most communities’ main streets are designed with some type of parking on both sides of their streets 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 by computer platforms and most likely going to take the passenger to the closest possible exit point to their destination. That may mean they will be exiting the vehicle from the busy street, potentially blocking traffic. Stopping traffic for who knows how long. If it is someone with a physical or intellectual disability who is departing the vehicle it may require an even longer time to transition out. The reverse could happen when a person summons an autonomous vehicle for a ride. In either case traffic could be blocked for a considerable length of time. Inconveniencing everyone!
These are the people most likely to utilize such a vehicle. Seven percent of the country has a disability of some type. If only three and half percent embrace this useful tool, can you imagine the potential impact it will have on local transportation.
There is 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 vehicles 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 for 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 my mind, but there are so many more opportunities if 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-CEO Rural Living Environments Babbitt, MN
