The End of the Road
Impact
How things would change
The turn of the twentieth century saw huge changes and developments in transport as the use of internal combustion engines spread.
A similar change is now necessary, and while this will be initially disruptive, the new system will make fast transport available to nearly everyone (the limitation being that you need to be able to move - wheelchair, walking stick, legs - whatever)
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This will include those currently too young or old to drive. Those who cannot drive through disability and
those who are not permitted to drive through medical conditions or substance abuse.
Ways life would change
The potential for improvements in lifestyle are endless, but consider a few of them:
Instead of driving over to collect your aging mother and bring her back to have tea with her grandchildren, you can simply send the pod on its own - and similarly to take her back
5 year old Tabitha can be sent to ballet class on her own because there is no lone walk at the other end and she would be brought back directly to your front door
Many businesses would create covered areas adjacent to their reception - which may not be on the ground floor - so that you do not need to contend with the weather on your way to that business meeting
Similarly, many private homeowners would convert their garage into a pod base so that they can avoid the weather
There could be a revival in rural pubs and resaurants as 'drinking and driving' would not be an issue
If the retailer did not have your size in stock, it could be despatched from their warehouse at Heathrow and be in central London in less than twenty minutes while they give you a commplimentary cup of coffee
Public transport
Mass public transport, and especially providing priority systems within the roads infrastructure to aid them, is counterproductive, simply exacerbating the issues in the worst hit areas. The demand for personal transport that goes from exact location to exact location, precisely when wanted, is increasing and will continue to do so. The great hope of technology to enable home working and therefore eliminate rush hour traffic jams has been invented. However, the social and cultural changes have so far failed to materialise, so while it is technically possible, it simply isn’t happening to the extent of making any noticeable difference to the traffic volume – although the issue would be even worse if all the existing home workers had to travel to offices as well.
With the new system, Public Transport, that is the collective transportation of people by pre scheduled mass services, would disappear. This would be replaced by an on-demand service, a bit like a taxi, but, (clearly) with no taxi driver. Unlike current public transport, this would go when you wanted, from where you wanted, to where you wanted, and be much quicker about it as it would not have to continually stop to let others on and off. It is anticipated that this service would be substantially less expensive than taxis, as the largest cost in a taxi is the driver
Motorsport
There is no reason why motor racing would not continue as a sport using all the traditional power methods, but its relevance to the transport industry would be closer to the current relevance of drag racing.
It’s a people delivery system. And this releases the travel time for other activities. Think: you’ve just been out for your early morning jog, and you’ve now got to go to the office. Well, get changed in the pod and freshen up. Then check out the day’s issues and events at your built in desk, all while using the time you would take to travel anyway. The pod becomes an extension to your house tailored to your own specification for whatever you want to do.
With no drivers, anyone could travel – the infirm and elderly, those too young to get a driving licence –
And also because the pod requires no driver, it can go and park itself once its dropped you off, or it can go back home to take the kids to school after its taken you to the airport.
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