It doesn't really help consumers whose whole point is to get from point A to B in the quickest and most comfortable manner.

It doesn't help traffic, and it only will if self driving cars are already the majority, which is a convenient perspective for developers of this tech, but is not viable and not a true statement.

I don't want to be that guy, but we all know trains and trams are the better tech. Luxury trains/trams would be a banger. Private rooms with better amenities than a car, why not?

The autonomous car industry is a few things: car protectionism, oil protectionism, autonomous warfare development and gimmicks.

▲

gs17 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

> but we all know trains and trams are the better tech

Great, but I'm actually in Nashville and I know there's about zero chance we get a (real) train, and that the train stops would definitely be no closer than the bus stop that's already inconvenient enough to not be worth it. The bus system used to (I think they still have it in one area) have a program where you could get free Uber/Lyft rides to/from bus stops, and cheaper autonomous rides could definitely make that more feasible to continue offering.

> oil protectionism

The Waymo vehicles I've been in were electric. If electric cars are "oil protectionism", then you can probably warp trains into it too (the bus certainly would be).

▲

rangestransform 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

> It doesn't really help consumers whose whole point is to get from point A to B in the quickest and most comfortable manner.

It does, I'm certainly more comfortable in an i-Pace than most of the economy hoopties I've ubered in. The time penalty is minimal (except for that time I had to chase a waymo around the block), and worth it for the comfort and safety.

> It doesn't help traffic, and it only will if self driving cars are already the majority, which is a convenient perspective for developers of this tech, but is not viable and not a true statement.

It certainly helps me arrive to my destination quicker than muni metro which I can often run faster than. Throwing individual benefit under the bus for collective benefit is rightfully a non-starter in the US.

> I don't want to be that guy, but we all know trains and trams are the better tech. Luxury trains/trams would be a banger. Private rooms with better amenities than a car, why not?

How much would a private room cost, even if we had ubiquitous Japan-tier rail?

> The autonomous car industry is a few things: car protectionism, oil protectionism, autonomous warfare development and gimmicks.

And fulfillment of individual desires

	▲	Atlas667 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		My whole argument is that you can fulfill individual desires better through other means. > It does, I'm certainly more comfortable in an i-Pace than most of the economy hoopties I've ubered in. The lack of choices due to monopoly capitalism is a self fulfilling prophecy. (regular capitalism after some time is monopoly capitalism) > Throwing individual benefit under the bus for collective benefit is rightfully a non-starter in the US. This is a false dichotomy brought about by living in an economy controlled by finance capital. Individual benefit does not have to look like this and can be more internally and externally consistent. Especially since this industry contains the seeds of its own destruction IN its own logic. Like I said, its more expensive than rail and to have any speed benefits it requires the majority of cars to be autonomous, which most likely will never happen. Not to mention physical safety and cyber security/privacy. > How much would a private room cost, even if we had ubiquitous Japan-tier rail? A private room would cost less because there are less costs involved overall. Rail/tram is cheaper and better. - I am, generally, arguing for medium and long distance travel tho. But in regards to short-distance specifically I think my argument still stands. I dont think it presents any greater benefit than the alternatives, of which some are definitely better. You'll see how mass use, if it even gets there, will make it just "another one". It doesn't scale. Plus autonomous warfare dev right under our noses.