Gadget Addicted Automobile Industry On a Collision Course With Cyclists As Sales Drop
 

I just read this article in the New York Times that made me think that the automobile industry is on a collision course, literally, with bicyclists, and bicycling.

Except for the little problem that bicyclists and pedestrians are so much smaller than cars they wont be recogized and seen. Instead, they WILL be banned from roads, unless we speak up NOW.

We are fighting a powerful foe, planned obsolesence.

Their old business model that had people buy new cars every year or two is failing, so they want a way to force people to replace cars more frequently. They are looking eviously at the smartphone market, and how people throw away functional cellphones to get new ones. They want the same kind of dynamic again with cars.

Computers age faster than cars. So, they want to use more distracting gadgets to make their cars age more rapidly.

We have to make people and government MORE aware that using mobile phones and especially, computers and texting in cars is UNSAFE AND A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.

They need money to get them listening. US politicians are addicted to lobbyists cash.

We need lobbyists and our own lobbying. Otherwise, ten years from now, bicycling as people do now may not be possible due to distracted drivers and computer collision avoidance systems that they depend on, but which ignore us.

Yep. The sky is falling.

Check out this video of Google's driverless car. The reporter even steps in front of the car. I'm looking forward to the future of driverless cars. I think it's going to mean safer roads for all of us.

Pathetic!

The automotive industry wouldn't have to put 'distraction nullifiers' in vehicles if, they didn't keep packing 'distraction producers', into vehicles in the first place.

The automotive industry is more concerned with the almighty dollar, instead of attentive drivers.

Idiots!!!

Agreed, whole-heartedly. Is there a possibility there may be a few accidents where the computers mess up and kill someone? Sure, it's possible... but I have no doubt it will be far, far less than the current problem of human error (usually due to carelessness).

I'm really a bit scarred of the next car I have to buy. The electronics in cars have already gone much too far, like the "stability control" that starts applying corrections that aren't asked for by the driver. It's just as likely to cause a crash as prevent one.

Instead of trying to make cars safer, we should make drivers safer. Have driving schools actually teach you to DRIVE a car, not just parallel park. Scandinavian drivers have to train in accident avoidance on a wet surface. In the US, you might be told in a classroom session that you should "turn into a slide." That's all you get in terms of learning car control.

Fortunately lawmakers in a lot of states have at least recognized that using a cell phone while driving is stupidly dangerous.

Ah, no they don't... the lawmakers have finally acquiesced to the fact that cell phones are distracting... but the paltry fines assigned to cell phone use are often less than the fines for littering... hardly a sign that lawmakers feel phones are "stupidly dangerous."

Audi's latest driverless-car concept specifically gives pedestrians priority over cars -- they want to make driverless cars safe enough to be let loose on pedestrian malls without hurting people or damaging the landscaping.

Really, when you think about the size of liability claims a driverless-car manufacturer will face the first time a sympathetic pedestrian gets hit, they'd be foolish not to incorporate far better avoidance systems than the average human driver.

I agree - I've driven next to the driverless car a number of times (once on my bike) and I think it is great.

I agree with you. However, that is a pretty low bar you've set there, especially here in the PNW. (I'm feeling a bit glum about the state of motorists hereabouts after reading about a blind man being run over in my local paper today.)

I'll bet it will be just like a Prius. People will buy it for the status, but people don't drive economically with Priuses, and they won't turn on the "auto" feature in self-drivers because they won't be satisfied with the lack of speed and excitement.

OTOH, people like not having to do things themselves. I could see a lot of people loving being able to play with their laptop or smartphone while their car drives them. No fuss, no muss.

Of course, in a rush, you're probably right.

The more gadgetd that are put on a car that distracts the driver the higher the accident rate will be.

As soon as people realize it means they can watch movies, have a drink, or have sex in the car on the way to work, it will become as popular as the Internet.

Driving a Prius economically is the cod liver oil of driving -- how many people really get personal gratification out of saving a few percent on fuel economy?

Exactly, it is only a matter of time... the first cell phones in the US were looked at as a gadget for doctors and the rich, now the things are ubiquitous. Computers were the same way... people couldn't even think of a good reason to own one... "balance my checkbook, keep recipes on..." Now it's hard to imagine not having a computer.

Over time, self driving cars will change much of the way we do things... and will make vehicular cycling both safe and popular. (imagine that).

Most likely people will end up not even owning cars, they will likely just schedule one ("there's a app for that") when they need one and you will likely have some sort of open ended lease to allow you to chose your transportation needs... and of course if it is not convenient to order or wait for the self drive car... well you can always bike there.

And of course 20-30 years into the future you'll be telling your grandkids... "yup, we used to actually drive those things ourselves... " The children won't quite understand what that means... and will look at their grandparents with that eye of "yeah, sure."

Isn't that called taking the bus? LOL

Yeah, as soon as that bus comes right to your front door, takes you right to your destination, and waits patiently until needed again.

NON-driverless cars aren't stopping those activities from the truly dedicated.

I have my suspicions with the new smartphones is a LOT of people using them while driving are watching a movie. its easier than texting!

A driver with a cellphone shaped object in hand, looking at it and NOT texting, is likely watching a video stream or reading

This driver-less, auto-pilot car idea will create new problems. Human nature being what it is, people will find ways to abuse the system. Imagine trying to get somewhere in a city and pedestrians keep walking out in front of you, knowing the vehicle will stop. The frustrated driver will disable the feature so they can continue their mad rush to get from point A to point B. Then it possibly will be viewed as 'only old people and morons use the auto-pilot, it stops too often and doesn't go fast enough'.

Just thinking on screen, is all. :)

Sure and no doubt the black boxes on these cars will be better and when the motorist does get involved in a collision with peds/cyclists et. al. due to tampering, hopefully the legal system will come down hard in such scofflaws.

Of course the legal system being what it is... no doubt will give "priority" to motorists... as it does now... until that issue is resolved, motorists maintain a certain carte blanche over all other traffic.

I think you're perfectly right. Many, many brands sell on acceleration, horsepower etc. - that their cars act like sports cars. At times one is tempted to think that most car buyers are either very young or trying to prolong their youth.

Yep, and given how a lot of drivers drive, they will "punish" other drivers who don't accelerate fast enough for them, as well. I've had drivers behind me freak out at me because I didn't accelerate fast enough from a stop sign... in a 5K lb. 18 ft long, 26 year old Mercury.
While riding my trike, I listen to the engines red lining from a standstill and all but the newest ones sound like they are about to peg out any minute. Thinking of how much cars cost to buy and fix, and refuel... and yet people beat on them as though they grow on trees... :/

Today's modern society has multiple personality syndrome, I think. It's chic to be 'green', save the environment, reduce, recycle, etc. etc. and at the same time, it's 'OMG Hurry up, I have to get there NOW!' and 'Ooh! Shiny! I must have it!'

:D

The latter personality issues are fed daily by ads from all sides... radio, TV, and the internet preach that "zoom zoom" mentality long and loud. Shiny... ohhhhhh.

Meh. Gas will be at $5.00 or more next spring. I'm betting on the bicycles.

I am never going to buy a driverless car. I love driving too much, as much as I love cycling, football, cricket... nothing is as satisfying as going around a corner on the limit etc.

Actually, the irony with computers is how many people now a days (smartphones aside) actually own just one computer? It seems like most people that I know have at least one desktop and one laptop computer. And let's not forget about "dedicated" gaming platforms. And lastly let's add back in the smartphones.

And speaking of smart/cell phones, the irony is how many people will turn around and go back home to get their cell phone if they forgot it?