National League of Cities report: City of the Future, Technology and Mobility 36 pp. (fwd)

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Clip from the report - link to the full report at my whatsnew page


THE AVAILABILITY
OF NEW MODES OF
TRANSPORTATION

The rollout of new modes of transportation is one of
the most exciting developments within the mobility and
technology landscape. Driverless cars will soon start to
share the roadways with traditional vehicles, and we may
see a rapid expansion of autonomous transportation
if fleet vehicles such as commercial trucks are the first
area where driverless vehicle technology is widely
deployed. Driverless public transit buses could join the
world of autonomous transportation shortly thereafter.
At the same time, electric cars are likely to replace
hybrids as the eco-friendly transportation alternative
to traditional gasoline engines, and electric assist
technology will continue to make bicycle commuting
more attractive and convenient for those that do not
wish to use personal vehicles or public transport. Finally,
futuristic mobility options ranging from folding cars
and automotive pods to Elon Musk’s Hyperloop transit
system may impact cities in ways that are difficult to
conceptualize at this point in time. One thing remains
clear, however – the lessons of the past teach us that
while we can anticipate change and make reasonable
predictions about what may come next, the future of
mobility is