Heya friends, happy Friday.
It’s actually been a pretty hard week here in the US. A school shooting. What feels like a million different attacks on the rights of Trans people. It’s hard to really find the words / hope in these moments, but I’ve added some links of places where you can donate your time / money / energy as you feel compelled in Extra Bits + Bobs.
OK onto ze news:
Read of the Week
It’s not the bike lanes fault you’re a bad driver
I love a bit of shade, especially as it related to the fact that driver’s don’t seem to understand that they are indeed the problem. The tag-line of this article is “instead of complaining about bike lanes, try paying attention while you're driving”, and it lands just right with me.
The article discusses Vancouver car drivers (hi Vancouverites!) complaining about slow street barricades and how they are causing “traffic chaos” [see tweet below for the lolz]. As it turns out, when driver’s aren’t paying attention to the world around them, and the infrastructure *is* there, they end up causing problems for themselves and other drivers—without killing more vulnerable roads users like pedestrians and bikers. Doesn’t seem so “useless” to me.
Government and Policy
Baidu and Pony.AI receive permits to operate in Beijing
Baidu’s Apollo Go program is now the first company in the entire world (!) to offer fully-driverless rides to the over 21 million residents in Beijing. What I’m realizing as I type this, is that while I often see the annual reports for driver engagements in California and the US, there is less news finding its way to me about how AV trials and programs are going in other parts of the world. I’ll keep an eye for future editions, as I imagine things likely aren’t as rose-y as mass media makes it seem.
AV trucking comes to Atlanta and Dallas
Kodiak (the trucking start-up) and Forward Air are the first companies to operate a autonomous truck/freight lane between Dallas and Atlanta. The trucks will make three round trips per week.
The more you know!
Everybody’s favourite train daddy (Andy Byford) is joining Amtrak (Streetsblog)
Industry
AFTR reader and friend, Augustin, has published Close the Autonomy Gap: 8 Guidelines for Successful Autonomous Mobility and Logistic Systems. The paper explores numerous themes from the perspective of vehicle manufacturers and mobility service providers, to help these organizations plan for more thoughtful implementations of AVs.
“The relevance of individual automotive brands will decline, and new brands will emerge. As a result, revenue and profit sources will shift, with digital ecosystems and mobility platforms becoming increasingly important.”
Cruise says they can operate Origin without NHSTA approval
Picture me, and my side eye 👀 Cruise announced their Origin vehicle in January 2020, and now almost three years later it *might* see the light of day in Austin. The cars won’t be accessible to the public, and will only be used for testing purposes. Cruise’s CEO went as far to say that the vehicle didn’t actually need NHSTA approval to operate on Texas roads … which seems like a very Texas approach to testing.
CNBC has a piece about what led to the breakdown of Argo AI (Ford and VW’s billion dollar bet on AVs). In 2021, Argo AI was valued at $12.4 billion with 2,000 employees. In October 2022, Argo AI shut down.
“After a rush of enthusiasm, self-driving projects have grown besieged by the challenge of developing needed technology and establishing a business model that’s sufficiently profitable to justify the billions they spend.”
The more you know!
Bill Gates takes an autonomous ride around London in a Wayve, talking about their unique approach to teaching cars how to drive (Bill Gates’ youtube channel??)
Cruise wants to expand across California, but what else is new? (Smart Cities Dive)
What does the driver’s test for an AV looks like? (Nature)
How AVs see around corners (BBC)
Waymo is dying on the hill that AVs are safer than traditional cars, and I am dying on the hills that cars will always be part of the problem (The Verge)
How Elon Musk single-handily ruined the idea of “full self-driving” (WashPo)
Research and Academia
How buses help alleviate poverty and unemployment
“Many studies have documented the linkage between public transportation and economic outcomes, though there is relatively little empirical evidence on the consequences of losing existing transit services, especially bus services, which disproportionately serve low-income populations.. Overall, we find strong evidence that disruptions in bus transit could have significant adverse impacts on neighbourhood economic outcomes.”
Opinion
Urban sprawl is a parenting problem
“Parents naturally fear so-called accidents like car crashes more than any other safety risk to their kids, with 9 out of 10 of them believing that too many people drive recklessly and endanger families on the road. But how does that fear get transformed into action or something beyond the grim sort of acceptance we practice every day?”
How to save America’s transit systems
*Chants public funding over, and over again*
“The only realistic way for transit officials to garner public support for the funding they desperately need is to demonstrate an ability to replace car trips, not just serve economically disadvantaged people who lack other means to get around their city. Otherwise, they forfeit the pro-transit arguments that resonate most with the public: curtailing congestion, reducing auto emissions, and boosting economic growth.”
Extra Bits + Bobs
Supporting gun control in the US: Everytown is always accepting donations to help further legal changes to gun control in the US. In addition, March for Our Lives, an organization founded by survivors of the Parkland shooting is another good option in terms of supporting work to end gun violence in the US.
Supporting Trans people in the US: Trans Lifeline provides on call support for trans people when they need it most, Protect Trans Health advocates for life saving medical care for trans people, and Transgender Law Center not only advocates for Trans rights, but also supports Trans people with legal matters including immigration, employment, and housing.
That’s all from me. Have a beautiful weekend friends.
Sarah
BEST QUOTE! "Waymo is dying on the hill that AVs are safer than traditional cars, and I am dying on the hills that cars will always be part of the problem (The Verge)"