Best delivery approach is autonomous delivery trikes that can mingle and keep up with large vehicles.

If they occasionally get run over, no big loss. Just indicates need for good blind spot detection on large vehicles.

I've almost been run over by close-passing buses. Far more lethal than trikes.

Yes. Here's a typical example.

Dutch people on @bsky.app have said friends have been killed this way despite local drivers being taught the "Dutch Reach."

I'd have more confidence in autonomous vehicles running simple code on a 40 year old Commodore 64 vs average human drivers. Especially drunks.

Best integrated strategy is more home deliveries of groceries, snacks, packages etc.

Fewer off-street parking spaces for in-person shoppers = more off-street parking/pickup/drop-off spaces available for robotaxis of all-sizes that deliver food & packages when not delivering people & prescriptions.

This leads to another use for sealed autonomous taxis the size of wheelchairs. Compact porta-potties on wheels that can be summoned to bus stops to reduce number of passengers using bus aisles as toilets.

Toilet vans can already be summoned in some cities. Only a matter of time for compact versions

Individuals who smell bad, such as drunks who vomit on themselves, piss their pants & shit their pants, should be riding in airtight single-seat easy-to-clean autonomous taxis the size of electric wheelchairs aboard public transit vehicles to protect the driver & other passengers from smell/violence

My bio states: "Would love to see a system that allows a narrow 22kg/49lb all-weather velomobile (pedal car) to travel from residence to intercity bus or train station on a protected cycle network. Then roll onboard an intercity bus like a land ferry for an extra fee."

Autonomous taxis also useful.

Autonomous vehicles are real. They save lives.

Star Trek transporters are fiction.

Billions of dollars invested in AI is money well spent. In addition to saving lives lost to traffic fatalities, distributed AI medical research is already finding better treatments for cancer & excruciating pain.

Yes. People who live in cooler climates often don't fathom how hot & humid it gets in some areas

My preference would be something like an e-assist pedal car taxi. Narrow enough for cycling networks. With heating & air conditioning + autonomous mode to go to next passenger or let you snooze.

Irrational opposition to autonomous vehicles of all sizes can't last as relative safety/efficiency continues to be proven. North American transit union Luddites can't stop autonomous vehicles of all sizes being tested & refined in Europe & Asia.

Autonomous delivery cycles:

x.com/aj_hugs/stat...

No need to get rid of cars. Just charge for road space & parking space they occupy, with off-peak discounts.

Also a per-mile road damage fee. Heavy vehicles create potholes. Cycles such as this weatherproof pedal car are too light to create potholes. Some weatherproof pedal cars weigh 22kg/49lb.

It's much safer for autonomous or remote delivery cycles to share roads with buses & other large vehicles. If they get run over by a bus. No big deal. It identifies bus drivers who need re-training.

If a human delivery cyclist gets run over by a bus that's a tragedy.

From: x.com/aj_hugs/stat...

Similarly, Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas was elected in an ultra-conservative city on a commitment to provide a variety of individual transport choices instead of politicians & government bureaucrats forcing choices on individuals.

Farkas didn't mention road tolls, but didn't rule them out.

From: x.com/IlirAliu_/st...
@iliraliu.bsky.social

Robotics friends. I am helping @ aj_hugs find a Head of Autonomy for his company @ Genie Mobility AI in San Francisco.

If you care about real world deployment and not lab demos, this is for you.

Andrew’s team builds autonomous delivery e-bikes.