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MASS TRANSPORT

or more than a decade, C40 impact. If the ambition of every wealthy
has been working with cities citizen becomes to own their own
to develop and share policies private AV, in which they can work or
and practices that help address relax, and the city is designed to benefit
Fclimate change. We know these users, the number of mass transit
that technological innovations cannot, users will fall, revenues will be cut and
in isolation, solve the challenges that buses, trams and trains risk becoming a
cities face. Autonomous vehicle (AVs) socially segregated transport mode for
technology is advancing at such a rate the less privileged.
that it is now only a matter of time until Many cities saw this trend in previous
AVs become the norm. City transport decades when they were redesigned
planners and politicians need to get to prioritize private cars. The social
ahead of the technology companies and environmental effects were as
and start mapping out new rules for problematic as the chronic congestion
driverless roads. AVs are not a magic it caused. I grew up in an era when the
bullet to cut emissions or reduce traffic. then British Prime Minister said “If you
However, with the right policies and see a man on a bus aged over 30, you
regulations, they can certainly be part know you are looking at a failure”. Huge
of the solution.
investment in the bus and underground
None of the benefits are system in London overcame that
guaranteed prejudice and we don’t want to go back
to it. It would be madness to repeat the
The potential social benefits of same mistakes again, simply because of
AVs are huge; including fewer road the novelty of AV technology.
accidents, increased productivity for
passengers, and improved access for Why cities need one another
people with limited mobility. Crucial The most sustainable, prosperous
for the climate is that AVs are electric and livable cities of the future will
powered. This could significantly reduce be those that avoid urban sprawl
the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and create compact and accessible
generated in cities and help tackle the communities. For policy makers that
air quality crisis facing so many cities means incentivizing shared transit,
around the world.
walking and cycling over private
However, none of these benefits are vehicles, whether AV or not. Cities
guaranteed. Cities that simply replace need to be in the driving seat of the
roads congested by conventional AV transformation. For that, cities
vehicles, with roads congested by AVs need access to information, tools and
will have missed a huge opportunity. It experts to understand and anticipate
is crucial that city governments create the arrival of AVs. But most importantly,
and enforce policies and regulations to cities need one another – only through
maximize the potential for AVs to deliver collective and collaborative action
social and environmental benefits. can cities influence and shape the AV
The aim: Shared zero- disruption for the public good.
emission transit The AV revolution is coming at a
moment in history when our cities need
A journey taken by a private electric-
powered AV will be less damaging to to be transformed to ensure they deliver
on the goals of the Paris Agreement
the environment than the equivalent and create sustainable, prosperous and
trip in a conventional, non-electric car.
However, the same journey taken by healthy communities for their citizens.
shared zero-emission transit, cycling, That opportunity is too good to miss.
or walking, would have an even lower * With permission from Siemens AG

www.trafficinfratech-com-500653.hostingersite.com June-July ’18 / TrafficInfraTech 55