It would be sub-optimal to plan large scale infrastructure improvements without considering the current slope of the S curve in autonomous driving progress. In just a few years we may be choosing fewer fatalities by phasing out steering wheels. Whatever changes the roads and environment need will shift a lot over the next couple of decades.
I think this is great to think about however I think many of the same lessons may still apply and can and should be applied now in a forward looking way:
From the article:
> Whereas the Netherlands clearly differentiates roads and streets — as do Germany, Spain, and France — the US is known for having “stroads,” roads where cars reach high speeds yet must also avoid drivers entering from adjacent businesses and homes. The majority of fatal crashes in American cities happen on these “stroads,” and impact pedestrians and cyclists in particular.
I think this will be _more_ important with autonomous driving. We've developed a built environment where car through traffic and destinations are co-mingled which leaves very little room for people to actually experience their destinations when they get out of their vehicles.
Perhaps I'm wrong, but my expectation is that the problem of "stroads" will only become more apparent if less focus is placed on getting from point A to B and more on where a person is trying to go which is my current long term expectations of the impacts of autonomous vehicles.
Some argue that autonomous driving will enable even worse infrastructure choices if we don't plan ahead. The Youtuber Not Just Bikes, for example, did a video called "How Self-Driving Cars Will Destroy Cities (and what to do about it)"[0].
If we start focusing on making alternatives to cars the most attractive options now, they can still be the most attractive(and efficient and safe) options even with self-driving cars everywhere.
For me the last 20 years showed the opposite. You should plan infrastructure considering current tech and adjust if required. There were so many promises not fulfilled and surprises where there were no promises that I don't see the point planning based on assumptions.
I lived in the Netherlands and infrastructure was great now and I am sure it will be great in 10 years, because they constantly think on how to improve given the situation. It will not be perfect in 10 years (and neither is now) but that's just life.
