Yay or Nay: Driverless Electric Bus
Exhibiting at the London Science Museum right now is a driverless hybrid bus that you hail with your mobile. It seats up to 24 people and follows its route based on magnets embedded in the pathway. It uses considerably less energy than normal cars and buses, and costs half as much as a normal bus does to operate, since it has no driver - making it theoretically possible to double the number of buses available, especially in remote areas. However, since it has no driver, there have been glitches: an unmanned bus in France ran over a sleeping dog and killed it. Commenters have also expressed concern about vandalism, thuggery and other unsavory behaviour taking over the buses. Can these logistical problems be solved easily enough to reap the benefits of expanded public transport at reduced environmental impact? Vote yay or nay! [GT]
The driverless bus you hail with your mobile [via BornRich]
[Don't forget to vote at Trashionista, Bridalwave, Corrie Blog, Kiss and Makeup, The Bag Lady, Shoewawa and Shiny Shiny too!]
I'm all for technology, but not at the expense of people's jobs.
Posted by: David | February 3, 2007 12:44 PM