Along for the Ride #160
Along for the Ride #160
Industry recalls, jobs you should apply for, and an invitation to prom ❤️
Heya friends, happy Friday!
True story: one morning this week while I was journaling (about my feelings, can’t always be about transit), I started my page by writing to myself “heya friends, happy.. morning” and I quickly realized I may write too many newsletters 😂. Anyways…! This edition has a lot of exciting news related to recalls, jobs you should apply for, and (!) an opportunity to join me at prom (!). I won’t give it all away, so over to you for your Friday reading pleasure.
Read of the Week
The insidious nature of car makers
My favourite topic is *always* about the history of automobile OEMs (a) purchasing all the transit lines, (b) destroying all transit infrastructure, (c) funding highway expansions, and (d) inducing climate change, record-setting traffic fatalities, congestion, and general sadness in our cities. Fast Company has a great (but sad / maddening) write-up about the modern day version of this, and how auto OEMs are using the same tactics today (under the banner of “Smart Cities”) to influence transportation network designs in favour of cars.
Government and Policy
Are drivers in the UK paying attention to the new highway code?
Nope. Not really. A new survey by AA found that 61% of drivers have not bothered to read the updated highway code that includes very nice things such as pedestrian priority laws and more! This likely explains why I was almost flattened like a pancake numerous times by drivers while walking in the UK in August.
Pennsylvania introduces AV guidelines
A state that still hasn’t legalized electric scooters is taking a whack at legislating AVs! PennDot is hoping to pass legislation next year that would give them the power to regulate the development of autonomous vehicles in the state. “The recommendations call for requiring that entities testing autonomous vehicles give PennDot a description of their testing plan, including the geographic area and road types the vehicle would be using, the speed the vehicle would be traveling, and the weather in which it can operate.”
Get ready to get your swoooon on. Mayor Wu continues to steal hearts and minds as she releases a massive plan to expand Boston’s *separated* bike lane network, Bluebikes bikeshare system, and more. We love to see it.
A bipartisan group of regulators has formed an autonomous vehicle caucus to educate fellow Congress members about the technology—get them to ride in a self-driving car. According to one of the leaders of the caucus, “it’s important that people, especially legislators, aren’t afraid of the technology.” Meanwhile, I’m just over here on my soapbox preaching that we should all be cautious about any piece of technology upheld as a single bullet solution for all our transportation problems. Stay weary friends, stay weary.
Japan’s traffic safety triumph
Japan has one of the best traffic safety records in the world, but it wasn’t always this way. A series of hyper-intentional moves across the country allowed for dramatic reductions in fatalities and series injuries caused by traffic over the past five decades. Interventions and policies range from right-sizing motor vehicles (like fire trucks), investments in public transit (like bullet trains!), no street parking (we love), and more. The podcast linked below does a nice job of summarising all of these points too.
Some harrowing statistics for us all:
Fewer than 3,000 people died in Japanese crashes in 2021, compared to almost 43,000 in the United States.
On a per capita basis, Japan had just 2.24 deaths per 100,000 residents, less than a fifth the US rate of 12.7 per 100,000.
Japanese roads are getting even safer: 2021 saw the fewest road fatalities of any year since record-keeping began in 1948.
The first errand
Shout to Michael and Macarena who both shared this podcast with me, thinking it might be a fit for the newsletter—you were right! This podcast discusses the Netflix show “My First Errand” that shows Japanese children running their first errand, all on their lonesome. At the heart of this episode, Roman Mars considers why Japanese children have such independent mobility. It talks about how the city’s design (street width, urban density, zoning, and neighbourly relations) all impact a child’s sense of independence and mobility. Worth a listen!
Industry
Cruise / GM recall their AV fleet
Welp after Cruise’s incredibly poor form recently, this seemed inevitable. GM recalled and updated software in 80 Cruise AVs after its string of system failures in May and June in San Francisco. According to Federal regulators the recalled software may “incorrectly predict another vehicle’s path.” *Bangs head against wall*
A review on computer vision for AVs
Thought I’d share this nice recap from Technology Magazine about how computer vision (at its most basic level) is used to guide autonomous vehicles. It’s short, it’s sweet, it’s to the point.
Uber partners with Nuro on AV food delivery
Uber has signed onto a ten-year long partnership with Nuro to be their official Uber Eats delivery vehicle. Maybe I’m just a commitment-phobe, but ten years is a short eternity in the world of transportation technology. Starting this Autumn, Uber Eats customers in Houston and Mountain View could have a lil mini-robot delivering their pad thai to their doorstep.
Leaked emails from Aurora CEO point to change
Ah, the good ol’ email leak. Aurora CEO, Chris Urmson inadvertently sent a board memo to staff, which inevitably was leaked for our reading pleasure. In the email he hints the company could be sold to the likes of Apple or Microsoft, cost-cutting measures, and other goodies.
Research and Academia
A review of unhoused populations and public transit
“More than 500,000 people experience homelessness in the United States, and many turn to transit vehicles, stops, and stations for shelter. We present findings from a survey of 115 U.S. and Canadian transit operators that inquired about homelessness on transit systems. We find that homelessness is broadly present, though more concentrated on central hotspots, and worsened during the pandemic. In response, transit agencies often initiate a combination of punitive and outreach strategies. Based on our findings, we argue for better data collection, establishment of policies and protocols, engagement in outreach strategies, and partnering with service providers.”
Universal basic mobility and transportation security
“Transportation mobility is fundamental to economic mobility. Low-wage workers commonly occupy entry-level positions where they must commute to work. But their commutes are fragile — one missed bus, one flat bicycle tire, or one deferred car repair can easily spell job loss…again. Transportation insecurity traps them in a game of Chutes and Ladders in which there are only chutes. Repeat tardiness denies them opportunities for raises or promotions. Over the course of a working life, this amounts to thousands of dollars of foregone earnings and wealth-building. And it affects more than individuals. The destabilizing effects of transportation insecurity cascades through families, communities, and the economy as a whole.”
Opinion
“Fully fledged self-driving technology appears to be perpetually just around the corner. It is a promise that the Tesla chief executive, Elon Musk, has made almost every year since 2013. But in the real world, it is still an open question whether level five self-driving automation is actually possible.”
Why parking reform is California’s most important climate policy
“The evidence is clear. California is behind on meeting its 2030 climate goals, and much of the culprit is due to rising transportation emissions from more driving. We also face a brutal housing shortage, leading to a mass exodus of residents to high-polluting states, pervasive homelessness, and stark income inequalities. A.B. 2097 would knit a solution to both problems, by making housing more affordable and reducing the need to own a car right near existing transit hubs.”
Is it the end of cars as we know it?
“Silicon Valley has taken over now. So why are they doing this? They’re doing this to grab another source of information, which is where you’re driving, how you’re driving, what you’re doing while you’re driving. Everybody says at the moment, though, they’re not going to make the self-driving car. But they’ll make it, and the question then becomes: How much do you care about your car? How much do you care about driving? People will care for an awfully long time, but will the next generation?”
Extra Bits + Bobs
Will you be my prom date? Very excited to announce that I’m helping to organize a PROM in San Francisco to celebrate the City’s public space crown jewel, JFK Promenade. Save the date for October 8th when this free event will be taking place in the park. More information here, register via Eventbrite here (and see my poster below!).
Jobs you should apply for! CoMoUK is hiring a Research Manager! The team is really wonderful, so if you have a soft spot for micromobility in the UK, this might be the job for you.
That’s all from me. Have a beautiful weekend friends.
Sarah
