ROBOTAXIS - Thoughts?

[marshall]

Yes, but it is politics that have made them expensive (regulations, approval timelines and bureaucracy).

I think you are over selling it.

As far as Everett to Tacoma, it's pretty much houses and commercial property. Paying for that private property is very, very, very expensive for a surface road. So I don't see much in the way of new road construction between those two cities.

 

[SouthernDude]

Yes, but it is politics that have made them expensive (regulations, approval timelines and bureaucracy). If you go back a bit in history, the 60s, roads and infrastructure were built for a fraction of today's cost (incl inflation) and in record times. Why, we because we weren't burdened by continuous legislation that added costs and lengthened timelines. Now, a single bridge or overpass takes forever to get approved and built.

Fair point, but it will still be more expensive because there is more developed land around city centers now and all of that developed land has way more value than in the past. This is something that should have been planned back in the 70s before major growth to cities, but that's just hindsight.

 

[R P]

Fair point, but it will still be more expensive because there is more developed land around city centers now and all of that developed land has way more value than in the past. This is something that should have been planned back in the 70s before major growth to cities, but that's just hindsight.

True, but the hold-ups and expensive infrastructure projects are not just limited to the cities where land will have to be appropriated. It's also all the newly declared rare frogs, bugs, ferns, etc that might be affected even out in the boonies. Reality is that certain politicians are just simply against more roads, and vehicle infrastructure, and will not support anything that might grease those skids. That would take away money from all their other pet projects and policies.

 

[Recoil45]

Why not? We do it for planes, busses and trains. It'll become common place for robo taxis as well.

1. It'll be 50% cheaper to ride shared rather than exclusive.

2. The route and schedule is optimized by software taking away the greatest barrier to car pooling today (organisation).

3. Huge incentive for the fleet operator to make it work as it results in more income for less capital and less miles.

Who at even the middle middle class earning level does this? I lived near and worked in NYC most of my adult life. No one making middle class wages would ever choose to ride share or use mass transit. They all pay extra for private transit because fellow humans are so nasty and inconsiderate. It’s only the poor who have no choice that use mass transit.

Auto pilot won’t change this concept.

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[electriceddy]

[QUOTE It’s only the poor who have no choice that use mass transit.
[/QUOTE


A bit of a generalization statement IMHO. I have and will continue to utilize "mass transit" for various reasons but feel free to count me into that group

 

[bwilson4web]

When we lived in the DC area, public transportation took twice as long as the car and a fraction of the cost. BUT it was quality time to work on projects.

Bob Wilson

 

[marshall]

It’s only the poor who have no choice that use mass transit.

I've used mass transit for a couple years while going to school in Seattle. I've also used it the few times I've gone to the ball games in Seattle.

I certainly could have afforded driving while going to school or the ball games. I was just less stressful or more convenient to take the bus.

Before Covid, the express buses and trains where full during the morning and evening commute to Seattle. I don't believe most of them are poor. I think for the most part it was just cheaper (free bus pass perhaps), more convenient (no parking hassles), and less stressful.

I've seen the stress that folks bare after driving though the evening commute.

because fellow humans are so nasty and inconsiderate

Yes, occasionally that happens, but you get that while driving too. I can name two instances during my bus travels (one smoker and a group of teens), and two road instances while driving to and through Seattle, one road rage and one bullet hole.

 

[Recoil45]

If you commuted on NYC subways, “occasionally“would change to “almost always”.


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