@popefucker I agree that in rural areas things like scheduled bus lines and light rail aren't sustainable. The original question was whether or not self driving cars are a positive force of change for disabled people who cannot operate automobiles and I am skeptical of the idea that disabled people living in rural areas are going to be benefitted by subscription based automobile services.
@popefucker Of course mass transit isnt equal everywhere, but in my area we have busses and rail going from major social centers throughout hte city and even into the suburbs running on a 15 minute schedule.
Ive heard from friends able to travel to japan that they are able to use trains for everything.
Perhaps if we took the money we are investing in self driving cars and spent it working with engineers on mass transit solutions it would be more viable
@sireebob like I said, isolated transit inside of a small metal cube hurtling along is never going to be a good option for these people. please remember what it was like being stuck in your family's car as a kid.
I feel that every single mentally disabled patient I have worked with, including my developmentally disabled brother, would have a negative experience with more dependance on cars.
My solution to their independance is with trolleys, busses, light rail.
@sireebob then why are we tailoring cars for them? being stuck in a small cube is being stuck in a small cube, if you think that self driving cars are more enjoyable then driving then you need to reminisce on what it was like being stuck in the back seat of your parents cheap sedan.
I have extensive experience working with mentally disabled people, and evey thing I know about them points to a more social mass transit option being way more healthy for them.
@sireebob Theres middle ground here, we dont need to prey upon the lower classes to make transport more accessible to the disabled, we can make cars easier to operate for disabled people. just look at the DCT, it allows people who dont have full functionality of their legs to choose their own gear.
We can vary the input devices used to operate cars without taking away peoples control over their transportation.