A fare optimized algorithm doesn’t care about rider tolerances. And congestion preempts more efficient modes of transportation. It’s pretty easy to see how this can be gamed by AV companies.
November 25, 2025 at 4:55 PM
A fare optimized algorithm doesn’t care about rider tolerances. And congestion preempts more efficient modes of transportation. It’s pretty easy to see how this can be gamed by AV companies.
Uber/Lyft, like taxis, are limited by human driver tolerance for long waits and lines. That doesn’t exist for robots driven by algorithms.
November 25, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Uber/Lyft, like taxis, are limited by human driver tolerance for long waits and lines. That doesn’t exist for robots driven by algorithms.
I think they’re saying the opposite. That knowing drivers don’t stop, pedestrians will (hypothetically) yield to drivers until safe (I.e. onus is on the pedestrian). This was more/less the explanation I’ve seen Berkeley traffic engineers.
November 25, 2025 at 2:20 AM
I think they’re saying the opposite. That knowing drivers don’t stop, pedestrians will (hypothetically) yield to drivers until safe (I.e. onus is on the pedestrian). This was more/less the explanation I’ve seen Berkeley traffic engineers.
And the transportation dept, at the behest of the fire dept, has recently standard mandating “mountable” traffic circles with curb heights so low as to be functionally equivalent to paint. And neighbors are unwilling to allow them to remove stop signs. The worst of both worlds.
November 25, 2025 at 1:26 AM
And the transportation dept, at the behest of the fire dept, has recently standard mandating “mountable” traffic circles with curb heights so low as to be functionally equivalent to paint. And neighbors are unwilling to allow them to remove stop signs. The worst of both worlds.
In Berkeley we have traffic circles *and* 4-way stops in the same intersection 🙃
November 24, 2025 at 8:01 PM
In Berkeley we have traffic circles *and* 4-way stops in the same intersection 🙃
Praise be for the marketing wizard that came up with “cotton candy grapes”
November 21, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Praise be for the marketing wizard that came up with “cotton candy grapes”
A real cottage industry
November 21, 2025 at 7:33 PM
A real cottage industry
The CPUC was the agency that classified AVs and mandates reporting and issues licenses I believe www.cpuc.ca.gov/news-and-upd...
CPUC Opens New Rulemaking on Autonomous Vehicle Passenger Service
www.cpuc.ca.gov
November 21, 2025 at 1:13 AM
The CPUC was the agency that classified AVs and mandates reporting and issues licenses I believe www.cpuc.ca.gov/news-and-upd...
I would assume so, but I admit I’m not an expert in this area so just speculating. There would be need to be *some* state agency involved regulating this.
November 21, 2025 at 1:07 AM
I would assume so, but I admit I’m not an expert in this area so just speculating. There would be need to be *some* state agency involved regulating this.
Great if those rules exist and will be guaranteed to be enforced, I highly doubt it though. I can doubt the competency of my regional transit agency but still desire that they succeed and labor to do so.
November 21, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Great if those rules exist and will be guaranteed to be enforced, I highly doubt it though. I can doubt the competency of my regional transit agency but still desire that they succeed and labor to do so.
I mean me too, but:
1.) I think these companies want monopolies - not cooperation
2.) do we believe the CPUC has the will to mandate that?
1.) I think these companies want monopolies - not cooperation
2.) do we believe the CPUC has the will to mandate that?
November 21, 2025 at 12:45 AM
I mean me too, but:
1.) I think these companies want monopolies - not cooperation
2.) do we believe the CPUC has the will to mandate that?
1.) I think these companies want monopolies - not cooperation
2.) do we believe the CPUC has the will to mandate that?
I mean I think the bet is “replace every car on the road with a Waymo” or something near to that. Which is a bet only a company at Google scale can make … and kill overnight if it doesn’t pan out.
November 21, 2025 at 12:31 AM
I mean I think the bet is “replace every car on the road with a Waymo” or something near to that. Which is a bet only a company at Google scale can make … and kill overnight if it doesn’t pan out.
I personally don’t think the business model is viable anyway. AV companies will have to shoulder immense fleet costs. Like running an entire transit agency for profit, which means very high trip costs.
November 21, 2025 at 12:10 AM
I personally don’t think the business model is viable anyway. AV companies will have to shoulder immense fleet costs. Like running an entire transit agency for profit, which means very high trip costs.
Thats big if. But assuming that were true, dedicated road space is still important for more efficient travel modes.
November 20, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Thats big if. But assuming that were true, dedicated road space is still important for more efficient travel modes.
Unfortunately congestion disincentivizes transportation departments from allocating road space to micro-mobilty and transit.
November 20, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Unfortunately congestion disincentivizes transportation departments from allocating road space to micro-mobilty and transit.
There closing the gap www.cloudflare.com/press/press-...
November 20, 2025 at 5:49 PM
There closing the gap www.cloudflare.com/press/press-...
Even though it publicly traded, it doesn't generate a profit. That seems to put it into the rapid growth phase.
November 20, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Even though it publicly traded, it doesn't generate a profit. That seems to put it into the rapid growth phase.
I mean they’re terrific for a startup no question.
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
I mean they’re terrific for a startup no question.
Yes for sure. Maybe I was responding to an argument you didn’t make. But the cloudlfare fiasco has really shown me how they approach critical software… and I’m worried.
November 20, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Yes for sure. Maybe I was responding to an argument you didn’t make. But the cloudlfare fiasco has really shown me how they approach critical software… and I’m worried.
But similar issues and remediations exist in every other language (including linting tools)? To me, this was more an issue of engineering discipline than it was anything else
November 20, 2025 at 4:56 PM
But similar issues and remediations exist in every other language (including linting tools)? To me, this was more an issue of engineering discipline than it was anything else
Idk, lots of languages can panic. Seems like poor testing with a dash of yolo thrown in. Besides poor coding, there were a lot of other things that need to be in place to protect against such a catastrophic failure of a core piece of internet infrastructure. 🤷🏾
November 20, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Idk, lots of languages can panic. Seems like poor testing with a dash of yolo thrown in. Besides poor coding, there were a lot of other things that need to be in place to protect against such a catastrophic failure of a core piece of internet infrastructure. 🤷🏾
Do we as a society have enough trust that any one of these companies won’t abuse the public realm for profit?
Doesn’t seem to be going well at the moment.
Doesn’t seem to be going well at the moment.
November 20, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Do we as a society have enough trust that any one of these companies won’t abuse the public realm for profit?
Doesn’t seem to be going well at the moment.
Doesn’t seem to be going well at the moment.
Congestion and waste of space and resources aside, AV companies are going to be controlled by tech oligarchs seeking profit. Are we trusting that our government will not be beholden to them to degree that we can ensure we have sufficient oversight?
November 20, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Congestion and waste of space and resources aside, AV companies are going to be controlled by tech oligarchs seeking profit. Are we trusting that our government will not be beholden to them to degree that we can ensure we have sufficient oversight?