Why autonomous vehicles won't reduce our dependence on cars in cities

No matter how well technology matches rides for us, the reality is a shared AV system will introduce a source of wasted time for users - minutes waiting here, a block or two to walk. Not to mention th

The technology of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is progressing rapidly, but have we really thought through how they’ll work in reality?

In its report on AVs in Australia, Austroads (the association of Australasian road transport and traffic agencies) paints both positive and negative scenarios for the future.

The positive scenario suggests that AVs could reduce car ownership and use thanks to a fleet of shared and connected AVs. These AVs would roam the city, filling in gaps in the timetables and fixed routes of a superior and cheaper public transport network.

But for this scenario to work, AVs