The future of transportation is already here
Apr 13, 2017 / Alex Moura
Let’s shake ourselves out of our four-wheeled stupor, look at the vehicles and devices being developed, and reimagine how we’ll move around our cities, says TED technology curator Alex Moura.
Humanity has come a long way from traveling by horse, but when we consider the future of transportation in cities, too many of us are still stuck in the 18th century. We still envision our streets full of four-wheel chariots (minus the horses), and our future as relying on cars or car-like vehicles, because that’s all we know. Why this myopia? For most automakers and transportation companies, adhering to the status quo is more profitable than experimenting; their business models, even for forward thinkers like Tesla, depend on their keeping drivers tethered with maintenance and service.
And builders and urban planners have learned to limit their thinking because existing regulations and clunky political processes have made it nearly impossible to innovate without years of negotiations. As a result, we’re laying the foundations for a transportation future that carries forward the problems of the past.
Read more: http://ideas.ted.com/the-future-of-transportation-is-already-here/
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Comments
I will go on record with a prediction of my own. Within the next 20 years or less, cars will make way for drones. Yes, drones will be upscaled to carry two people and we will see a merging of technologies to provide the power (super batteries) and onboard navigation systems required. This will also bring with it things like improvement in air quality (millions of cars no longer pollute our air) and traffic congestion. There, I’ve said it!
Love the pint-sized people mover for sidewalks & bike lanes. To that, add a Gita and I’m off 🙂