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Re: A tug-of-war between Metro, Metrolink intensifies the ranting of conspiracy nuts?
Author: Edward
Date: 07-31-2017 - 21:05
Ignoring the rant, this brings up an interesting topic:
One of the discussions in the technical press about self driving vehicles is the difficulties with pedestrians and, even more so, bicycles. They are smaller and, because of their low mass, much more unpredictable. That is, they can dart out or change directions in a manner impossible for a car. The general opinion is that the pedestrians and bicycles come first. Given that, there is a lot of work yet to be done in the "self driving" to be worked out.
One bright spark proposed having pedestrians carry a small transponder so the cars would know where they were. That idea got promptly shot down. Dead battery = dead pedestrian?
The future is coming fast. Let's hope it goes in the right direction. If more of the youngest generation do not own cars, but only use self driving services when needed, there will be no need in the future to widen roads and parking will cease to be a bone of contention when someone decides to take a lane for a protected bike path. Some predict an 80% reduction in the number of cars. Oh if you want one you can have one, but many will choose to save the big bucks needed to buy, feed, maintain and house a car. We will once again be the dominant species on this planet.
Why, conversion of garages into studio apartments will even handle some of the housing shortage and help pay off mortgages. Win, win, win.
One of the discussions in the technical press about self driving vehicles is the difficulties with pedestrians and, even more so, bicycles. They are smaller and, because of their low mass, much more unpredictable. That is, they can dart out or change directions in a manner impossible for a car. The general opinion is that the pedestrians and bicycles come first. Given that, there is a lot of work yet to be done in the "self driving" to be worked out.
One bright spark proposed having pedestrians carry a small transponder so the cars would know where they were. That idea got promptly shot down. Dead battery = dead pedestrian?
The future is coming fast. Let's hope it goes in the right direction. If more of the youngest generation do not own cars, but only use self driving services when needed, there will be no need in the future to widen roads and parking will cease to be a bone of contention when someone decides to take a lane for a protected bike path. Some predict an 80% reduction in the number of cars. Oh if you want one you can have one, but many will choose to save the big bucks needed to buy, feed, maintain and house a car. We will once again be the dominant species on this planet.
Why, conversion of garages into studio apartments will even handle some of the housing shortage and help pay off mortgages. Win, win, win.
