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0 pointsJoshTriplett9y ago0 comments

Cities already tend to have limited parking. We might see more parking structures located in cheap out-of-the-way locations rather than near places people want to go. And street parking could go away in favor of consolidated parking structures, freeing up road space for both car traffic (with extra lanes) and foot traffic (widen sidewalks).

But I think it'll have an even larger effect on suburban areas. Shopping centers, strip malls, and similar will no longer need to have massive flat single-story parking lots, freeing up a huge amount of space. Likewise for major employers, and commuter parking lots for mass transit.

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BurningFrog9y ago

Let me spell out the argument more:

Instead of 100 people owning 100 cars they drive 5% of the time, they could own 10 summonable cars that drive them around 50% of the time.

The first scenario requires 95 parking spots. The second only 5. There is still as much traffic on the roads, and as much transport work being done, but most of the space now needed for parking can be put to other use.

mahyarm9y ago

No because you have to account for peak usage and have the capacity for it. There will be car savings, but the math wont be as simple as you say it is.

intrasight9y ago

Have staggered work start and end times and "peak usage" will be a less pronounced peak. Also add in more home offices. I've no doubt that in 20 years car ownership will be a fraction of what it is today. Everything points in that direction and nothing opposes it.

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BurningFrog9y ago

Sure, it's a simplified model to illustrate the mechanism radically lowering the need for parking spots.

Which is quite different from "car savings", if we're being picky.

dredmorbius9y ago

Experience with car share services suggests this isn't the case.

Source: Personal conversation with ZipCar analyst.

Tiktaalik9y ago

Why do you need autonomous vehicle technology to realize this?

One could do this already by just taking taxis everywhere.

This obviously doesn't happen that much.

What is autonomous car technology going to change that will make this concept a reality?

drcross9y ago

A taxi driver has a salary of, let's say, $40k a year. When that's removed the cost to travel in an autonomous car will be so low that it's lower than most forms of public transport with the benefit that it brings you door to door.

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BurningFrog9y ago

Let me spell out the argument more:

Instead of 100 people owning 100 cars they drive 5% of the time, they could own 10 summonable cars that drive them around 50% of the time.

mahyarm9y ago

No because you have to account for peak usage and have the capacity for it. There will be car savings, but the math wont be as simple as you say it is.

intrasight9y ago

1 more reply

BurningFrog9y ago

Sure, it's a simplified model to illustrate the mechanism radically lowering the need for parking spots.

Which is quite different from "car savings", if we're being picky.

dredmorbius9y ago

Experience with car share services suggests this isn't the case.

Source: Personal conversation with ZipCar analyst.

Tiktaalik9y ago

Why do you need autonomous vehicle technology to realize this?

One could do this already by just taking taxis everywhere.

This obviously doesn't happen that much.

What is autonomous car technology going to change that will make this concept a reality?

drcross9y ago

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse