The future of cars?

[Skewif]

If this is the future regarding cars, how would campervans and motor homes fit in?

https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/business-45786690

 

[motacyclist]

I would think that personal transport will change along those lines, but there will still be vans, trucks, and hopefully camper vans. Caravans would become obsolete because there would be no cars to tow them, this may be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your point of view!

One thing to note about the comparison they made is that horses were not banned in the early 20th century, and they are still legal today. People made the choice to move over to cars, they weren't forced.

I wonder what they did with all the spare horses?

 

[Skewif]

I'd be more than happy for it to go that way. Transport wherever and whenever you want it and never needing to find a parking place. To fit into that model all the trucks, vans and campers would also have to autonomous so as to not pose a danger by having a driver. If you can no longer drive because you'll cause havoc in a world of autonomous vehicles all talking to each other (no need for traffic lights etc) then would driving controls become an option only for those who want to venture off public roads?

 

[Meoncoast]

Back to a tent then!

 

[WelshGas]

And the countryside will get 1 Vehicle/village. Some villages around here don’t even get a bus/day.

For cities - fine. For anyone else - useless.

 

[B J G]

I remember a working Shire horse on a farm back in the mid 1950's, sad day when it passed away after being mostly retired from manual duties. No overnight change there.

 

[Borris]

"Don't worry that rural areas will be left out. A vehicle could be parked in every village waiting for your order to come".

That's very considerate of them to think of us country bumpkins! The only problem is that every household in the country has two or more cars just to get around. There's no public transport and there aren't enough horses to go around.

Obviously written by a city dweller who's never been to the country.

 

[Erbster]

I think the environmental benefits are overstated too. Although there is no pollution at street level, we’ll still need to generate huge amounts of electricity, much of which is from fossil fuels. Also, battery technology is not that clean, as huge polluting ships transport ores across the oceans to make batteries, which are shipped again. A whole new industry will be needed to recycle end of life batteries. I think change will come but it’s not going to solve the environmental crisis.


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[motacyclist]

I'd be more than happy for it to go that way. Transport wherever and whenever you want it and never needing to find a parking place. To fit into that model all the trucks, vans and campers would also have to autonomous so as to not pose a danger by having a driver. If you can no longer drive because you'll cause havoc in a world of autonomous vehicles all talking to each other (no need for traffic lights etc) then would driving controls become an option only for those who want to venture off public roads?

And the dealers would all go bust. Does anyone feel sorry for them ...

I wonder what they would use all their glass palaces for?

 

[Amarillo]

And the countryside will get 1 Vehicle/village. Some villages around here don’t even get a bus/day.

For cities - fine. For anyone else - useless.

Is that how it was in villages during the era of horse drawn carriages a few generations ago? Villages almost devoid of equine transport options while city folk had a stable or two and a generous sized paddock each?

If anything, I'd expect lower population density regions to have more AV cars per head of population - time will tell who is correct.

 

[WelshGas]

Is that how it was in villages during the era of horse drawn carriages a few generations ago? Villages almost devoid of equine transport options while city folk had a stable or two and a generous sized paddock each?

If anything, I'd expect lower population density regions to have more AV cars per head of population - time will tell who is correct.

People worked where they lived. Nowadays, very few do and the majority commute.

Taking it to the Nth degree. There is no need for these vehicles within any town/city. The inhabitants could just use public transport or shanks's pony. ( if they can still move independently - obesity crisis )
Power generation is mainly in the countryside. So base the vehicles in the countryside where they can be charged and maintained. Commuters would use them to commute to town outskirts and then use public transport.
Easier and cheaper to install the electricity infrastructure for charging etc: out in the countryside than in the towns.
The only vehicles in town would be taxis and commercial. Taxis should be expensive to minimise use. Public transport re-vamped.

Would/could such a system nationwide ever be implemented by any Government - wishful thinking I believe.

 

[Amarillo]

Taking it to the Nth degree. There is no need for these vehicles within any town/city. The inhabitants could just use public transport or shanks's pony.

Already some 45% of households in London are carless. This rises to 75% in inner London boroughs like Islington.

Power generation is mainly in the countryside. So base the vehicles in the countryside where they can be charged and maintained. Commuters would use them to commute to town outskirts and then use public transport.

I can see that coming. Congestion charging already happens in central London. The Ultra Low Emissions Zone is being expanded to the North and South Circular Roads - enclosing over a twentieth of the British population. The next easy-to-monitor ring is the M25. Punitive pricing for the most polluting vehicles as they progress towards the very centre of London.

But... there needs to be new infrastructure to deal with commuters parking on the outskirts of London to change from car to public transport. Some of this is evident at stations like Ebbsfleet International, with an interchange more like an airport than normal commuter station.
https://goo.gl/maps/aL9eH2eM6mC2

 

[Bellcrew]

People worked where they lived. Nowadays, very few do and the majority commute.

Taking it to the Nth degree. There is no need for these vehicles within any town/city. The inhabitants could just use public transport or shanks's pony. ( if they can still move independently - obesity crisis )
Power generation is mainly in the countryside. So base the vehicles in the countryside where they can be charged and maintained. Commuters would use them to commute to town outskirts and then use public transport.
Easier and cheaper to install the electricity infrastructure for charging etc: out in the countryside than in the towns.
The only vehicles in town would be taxis and commercial. Taxis should be expensive to minimise use. Public transport re-vamped.

Would/could such a system nationwide ever be implemented by any Government - wishful thinking I believe.

Pie in the sky stuff, the economics will need an authoritarian government to control everything, maybe in China but Italy/Greece?

 

[B J G]

Is that how it was in villages during the era of horse drawn carriages a few generations ago? Villages almost devoid of equine transport options while city folk had a stable or two and a generous sized paddock each?

If anything, I'd expect lower population density regions to have more AV cars per head of population - time will tell who is correct.

With farm machinery already being controlled/driven by GPS based controls the Rural area is ahead of the Cities already in some respects.

 

[B J G]

Strange how Politicians harp on about vehicle pollution but never a word about stopping wars due to the environmental damage done on a daily basis. Perhaps old pickup trucks will be replaced by electric ones.
Off topic but....

 

[Erbster]

Strange how Politicians harp on about vehicle pollution but never a word about stopping wars due to the environmental damage done on a daily basis. Perhaps old pickup trucks will be replaced by electric ones.
Off topic but....

I think you’re right. EV’s are a step in the right direction but there are lots of other environmental issues which need sorting out just as badly. A case of a quick fix bandwaggon methinks...


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[motacyclist]

there are lots of other environmental issues which need sorting out just as badly

Road humps and out of sync traffic lights for starters!

 

[Erbster]

Road humps and out of sync traffic lights for starters!

So I’m not the only one who silently fumes about traffic lights out of sequence!!

Speed bumps seem to be an evil necessitated by an inconsiderate minority...


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[Amarillo]

So I’m not the only one who silently fumes about traffic lights out of sequence!!

Far from the only one...

The is an excellent motor traffic free route in the East of London called the Greenway. At the point where it passes under the A13, cyclists and pedestrians must press buttons to request motor traffic to let them pass at six distinct road crossings to continue on along the Greenway.


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[WelshGas]

Far from the only one...

The is an excellent motor traffic free route in the East of London called the Greenway. At the point where it passes under the A13, cyclists and pedestrians must press buttons to request motor traffic to let them pass at six distinct road crossings to continue on along the Greenway.


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And who pays the Road Tax and Petrol Duty?
A little inconvenience on behalf of the pedestrian/cyclist in pressing a button probably has a significant impact on emission levels at that point as the traffic is only stopping when there are people waiting to cross rather than there being a timed light change.
Of course, if the pedestrians only have the 1 route across the A13, and cannot turn off on side routes, then it seems a bit pointless having 6 separate traffic light systems to operate.

 

[Amarillo]

And who pays the Road Tax and Petrol Duty?
A little inconvenience on behalf of the pedestrian/cyclist in pressing a button probably has a significant impact on emission levels at that point as the traffic is only stopping when there are people waiting to cross rather than there being a timed light change.
Of course, if the pedestrians only have the 1 route across the A13, and cannot turn off on side routes, then it seems a bit pointless having 6 separate traffic light systems to operate.

I guess I pay the same VED and fuel duty as any other California owner with the same age/spec vehicle. I know of no discount I can get as a cyclist, so I’m a little unsure of the point you are trying to make. Are you saying that pedestrians/cyclists/equestrians etc are somehow a sub class of road user?

The problem with that junction is not the A13 main carriageway which passes above the Greenway, but crossing the A13 slip roads and roundabout below.


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[WelshGas]

I guess I pay the same VED and fuel duty as any other California owner with the same age/spec vehicle. I know of no discount I can get as a cyclist, so I’m a little unsure of the point you are trying to make. Are you saying that pedestrians/cyclists/equestrians etc are somehow a sub class of road user?

The problem with that junction is not the A13 main carriageway which passes above the Greenway, but crossing the A13 slip roads and roundabout below.


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No, they are not a sub-class, they just don't or should not have anymore rights than other road users.

Although, judging by the group of cyclists I saw this morning being taken to task, by a policeman, for riding the wrong way up a 1 way car park entrance they think they are a sub-class with more rights than other road users. Fortunately they were firmly reminded of their responsibilities.

 

[Amarillo]

No, they are not a sub-class, they just don't or should not have anymore rights than other road users.

Although, judging by the group of cyclists I saw this morning being taken to task, by a policeman, for riding the wrong way up a 1 way car park entrance they think they are a sub-class with more rights than other road users. Fortunately they were firmly reminded of their responsibilities.

I’d like to point out that pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians, etc have an absolute right to use the highway. Nearly all motor vehicle users do so under licence, which can, and sometimes is, revoked for misuse of the rules.

Traffic light signals, for example, are entirely optional for pedestrians. And apart from a very few limited places, such as the Royal Parks, speed limits are for guidance only for cyclists and equestrians.

So, the same rights do not apply equally to all road users.


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[Wongo]

I live in London and keep being told 40K deaths a year caused by pollution. No real evidence of course and the total hypocrisy that instead if a ban ( which is what you would do if the 40k was true) you can pay a charge and carry on killing!
No wonder people distrust politicians.

 

[Amarillo]

I live in London and keep being told 40K deaths a year caused by pollution. No real evidence of course and the total hypocrisy that instead if a ban ( which is what you would do if the 40k was true) you can pay a charge and carry on killing!
No wonder people distrust politicians.

It should be reasonably easy to estimate the number of premature deaths per year in London from pollution. Upper and lower limits and % certainty would give greater credibility to the figures.

When in London, on about 80% of nights, I cough and wake myself up as I fall asleep. This rarely/never happened during our year away living in the van. Anecdotal I know, but it is enough to persuade me to move my family away from London as soon as Is practicable.


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