Comment by xnx
In most respects, Waymo is the modern version of reliable and frequent public transit, with a lot of additional benefits.
In most respects, Waymo is the modern version of reliable and frequent public transit, with a lot of additional benefits.
Mass transit only works when there are masses of people, and most of the US doesn't have that. But places like the Great Plains and the rural Northeast already have comprehensive roads systems, and electric robot cars turn those roads into transit for people who, currently, must have cars.
Not in terms of throughput though. Buses and trains still have em beat.
In rural places, not only are there no buses or trains, there's hardly any taxis. Maybe during the day if you wait an hour or two, but you're not getting home at night without your own car.
A couple robot taxis roaming around every rural country in the US comprehensively solves this problem.
Agree. Though I imagine the cost to run robot taxis in low density areas would be much higher than in high density areas, as there'd be a higher distance between rides, and so more wasted time and gas. I suspect that would slow adoption.
Also if we dream big here, I wonder how robot buses would work in low density areas, maybe with dynamic routes and pricing?
The modern version of reliable and frequent public transit is reliable and frequent public transit.