I’m imagining these vehicles on a sort of track, this way if the automation fails, it can still be guided. Also, the track could even potentially deliver power. The vehicle can be any number of connected pods.
I don't understand the sarcasm. Driverless trains for mass transit are in operation in lots of places around the world and have been for some time (eg the Docklands light railway in London) https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/dlr/
Driverless personal transportation is the unsolved problem.
Weirdly, DLR trains still have an attendant onboard. A better example of a fully centrally operated train would be something like the SkyTrain lines in Vancouver.
The book The Box discusses similar compromises that were made with the longshoremen unions during the transition from conventional hull-packing to containers. There's a certain fairness to it at least for a time, but the technology existing to make the role truly unnecessary does prime things for the next round of discussions when it can be fully eliminated or moved to an off-board overseer remotely monitoring multiple trains at once.
The point is that we don't have mass transit in most places in the US. Trains and light rail are indisputably better for everyone but we're betting the entire country on yet more cars.
Then have the track go to each persons doorstep. Also make sure the pod shows up within 5 minutes at your doorstep when you hail it from your phone. Each pod should be private and airconditioned. Each pod should also lay its own track when driving to remote locations.
They actually invented something like that called a train around 1804 and very soon when they've developed it a bit more it will solve all our traffic problems.
The commenter was being sarcastic about trains I think, but while we should be using public transport where possible there is sometimes a need for door-to-door transport so I don't see why we can't explore new ideas that may combine some of the advantages of both for certain use cases
Not sure where you are getting this information. Where there are trains, people take the trains far more.
In Tokyo, the vast majority of passengers rely on the extensive and efficient train system, which is often considered the best in the world. Cars are less commonly used due to high parking costs, traffic congestion, and the convenience of public transportation options like trains and subways.
Transportation Options in Tokyo
Train Passengers
Rail Network: Tokyo has the most extensive urban railway network in the world, with 40 million passengers daily.
Frequency: Trains run every two to three minutes during rush hours, ensuring minimal wait times.
Accessibility: Major stations are equipped with elevators and clear signage in multiple languages, making it easy for tourists to navigate.
Car Usage
Driving Conditions: Driving in Tokyo can be challenging due to narrow roads, heavy traffic, and limited parking availability.
Parking Costs: Finding parking can be difficult and expensive, with many areas lacking sufficient parking lots.
Rental Considerations: Renting a car may incur additional costs such as tolls and drop-off fees, especially if returning the car to a different location.*
If automation fails on a track, there are many people dead and toxic chemicals spilled everywhere - just look at US freight accidents. With orders of magnitude more mass, 3x less friction than tire/asphalt and no way to steer, many avoidable accidents are now also fatal. Now you need grade separation so this whole thing isn't compatible with pedestrians and bikes. But sure, keep posting this tired joke.
