Where Do Autonomous Vehicles Fit in Our Future?

September 25, 2018 9:13 AM
by Julie Wedig

This article originally appeared in the September edition of Seascape.

Technology is changing the way we get around. Whether it’s using the app to reserve your Breeze bike, or comparing travel options on Google maps, we have more choices than ever. Car makers have joined the wave too, and are racing toward autonomous vehicles in partnership with software and technology companies. What does all this mean for getting around on your local streets?

The City of Santa Monica has begun researching how autonomous vehicles (AVs) will change the way people work, travel and shop, and how AVs may affect the City’s economic prosperity in the long term.

On June 5, the City hosted a panel of experts at the Main Library to explore these topics, as part of the Economic Sustainability Initiative. Whether used for personal trips, mass transit or commercial delivery, self-driving technology has the potential to transform how we move people and goods through cities. They may improve accessibility, add productive time in the day, and allow easier shipment of products. On the other hand, they may displace jobs, decrease safety for people walking, and increase vehicle miles traveled and therefore add significant congestion on our roads. Although much remains to be discovered about AVs, researchers are increasingly clear that AVs as a personal car replacement won’t solve our congestion and environmental issues on their own. Experts agree that our cities will function better if people use AVs that are shared, powered by renewable energy and tied into existing transit options like walking and biking. Policy will need to guide toward ridesharing, renewable energy sourcing and supporting mass transit. With thoughtful policy and vision, we may be able to move people more efficiently and achieve our goals for a Sustainable Santa Monica.

The City will soon issue a request for proposals to recruit a team of experts to assist in engaging the community on major changes like AVs, discovering how these changes might affect the city, and planning how to respond. To learn more, including a recording of the June 5 program, please visit santamonica.gov/EconomicFuture.

Authored By

Julie Wedig
Administrative Analyst