The Socio-Economic Impact of Urban Road Automation Scenarios: CityMobil2 Participatory Appraisal Exercise

Abstract

This document aims at assessing and fine tuning alternative scenarios concerning road automated transport, based on the contribution of research, industry and public stakeholders convened at the CityMobil2 Workshops organised in La Rochelle on 30–31st March 2015. Two different paradigms—with and without a shift to shared mobility—were debated and a number of potential socio-economic impacts were identified. Road automation scenarios are devised for different urban typologies—large metropolitan areas, polycentric city networks, small-medium towns, rural/tourist areas. Impacts are assessed in a qualitative fashion—with the support of an online DELPHI survey followed by the workshop debates—in relation to a number of variables. These include: job disruption and creation; personal trips costs; public budget effects; insurance costs; accessibility to remote areas; road capacity and its use; journey comfort and convenience; energy and emissions; land saving for new public space uses; social impacts in terms of safety, personal security, health and active travel (trade-offs in automated rides vs. walking or cycling) and different perception/value of time spent travelling in automated vehicles.