Safeguard the Space Created by Driverless Cars for Public Benefit
Use driverless cars to create space for people
Driverless cars are on the verge of becoming a wide-spread reality. Many speculate that they will reduce congestion and create additional road space, through more effective driving and vastly reduced demand for parking space.
Scotland should follow Vancouver’s lead and enact legislation that explicitly prohibits a net increase in motor vehicle capacity within its cities. This would mean that, once the ‘driverless dream’ becomes a reality, there is legislation to ensure we use the additional space to build streets that include wider pavements, protected bike lanes, better transit systems and more successful public spaces.
Without this legislation in place, we risk repeating the mistakes of our past: induced demand will create a sharp rise in the use of driverless cars, which would lead to sedentary cities that are as inaccessible by foot and bicycle as before.