UK Inches Closer To Eliminating Private Car Ownership

Soon, Brits will own nothing and will be happier for it…

UK Government Transport Minister Trudy Harrison recently spoke at a mobility conference, addressing the future of personal mobility. In her comments, she said it was necessary to ditch the "20th-century thinking centred around private vehicle ownership and towards greater flexibility, with personal choice and low carbon shared transport." That’s right, she said the quiet part loud and showed the hand of a growing number of government officials.

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tallpowerhouseblonde · 36-40, F

The current transport minister is Grant Shapps.
Trudy Harrison is an under secretary.While she did make this speech the contents are her thoughts and not government policy.
However some of what she said makes sense.
When we have autonomous cars that drive themselves why would we actually buy one when an autonomous taxi does exactly the same thing without any ownership costs,parking costs needing to recharge it.Order your taxi on an app and it will be at your front door ready to drive you to work,shopping etc.
The new flying cars in development?We have had flying cars for years they are called helicopters.
With more working from home and mail order purchases we are using cars a lot less.When a replacement battery for an electric car costs more than the car is worth it's a financial disaster.
We are headed into exiting times ahead.Let's stay positive and use new technology effectively and efficiently.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@tallpowerhouseblonde I think we can discount the personal helicopter model that first reared its head in 1940s futurist speculation and fiction. Anyway it would still need fuel or electrity.

However the notion of autonomous or self-drive cars on demand does circulate. It would not solve anything though. We'd still need much the same number of vehicles overall to suit the demand, but would be faced with no certainty of hiring an appropriate vehicle at and for the times we need it.

It won't be free either. We would still need pay for its use and re-charging.

"Exciting" times? Hmmm. .Interesting but bleak for all but the rich, or who do not want or need a car for anything.

tallpowerhouseblonde · 36-40, F

@ArishMell Actually we would need a small fraction of the vehicles.Our cars spend most of their time parked up doing nothing.Autonomous taxis will be in continuous use so far more efficient.The cost would be spread across all who use the taxis instead of vehicle owners having to pay the entire cost themselves.Also taxis are a business with tax deductible expenses.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@tallpowerhouseblonde I see what you mean. I think that might work for fairly short, local journeys such as commuting but much less practical for longer trips extending over some days and to places where there is little or no other forms of public transport to provide a viable local alternative.

As a business of course, the taxis will not be cheap, adding up to substantial sums for those needing them daily.

I think that basically, many people are going to be confined to their localities, with only occasional forays for holidays or to visit relatives a long way away by bus or train - and where possible.

Huge swathes of the country's social and cultural life will disappear, too.

tallpowerhouseblonde · 36-40, F

@ArishMell Using a taxi daily can be cheaper than car ownership right now.
Culture was around long before cars and will be here still when cars are long gone.
Long distance forays are already occasional and holiday destinations are regularly flown to the car stays at home,parked up still costing money to go rusty.