Automated Vehicles and Sustainable Cities

Abstract

The adoption of realistic automated vehicle (AV) technologies in the near future could trigger a shift toward a more efficient, environmentally friendly, and socially inclusive urban transport system if appropriate policies are implemented. Despite this potential, however, AV technologies seem unlikely to revolutionize ground transportation in the near future given the challenges and uncertainties associated with highly automated (driverless) vehicles. This chapter analyzes the slow progress toward and challenges to highly automated vehicles, and proposes a list of AV technologies that are most likely to be widely adopted within the time framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The authors then discuss how near-future AV technologies may affect the ability of achieving the sustainable development goal (SDG) of sustainable cities and communities (SDG11) and interconnected SDGs on health (SDG3), energy and resources (SDGs 7 and 12), economy (SDG8), and the environment (SDGs 13–15). The chapter concludes with four policy recommendations (transit integration, infrastructure, pricing, and experience sharing) for cities to best utilize and adapt to near-future AV technologies in order to achieve SDGs.