History records an American public quite willing to embrace new technology. But recent history also shows a growing distrust of Big Tech — from app-enabled mobility monopolies to social media giants.
A better solution would use GPS technology to price all roads according to the value that drivers place on them at a given time. Such a market-based system would replace gasoline taxes and capture the marginal costs drivers impose on others when they use the roads.
It’s hard to imagine an electric scooter in a Judy Garland love song. More to the point, the very flexibility of today’s “micromobility” machines means that they follow rather than encourage development.
CSPAN3 coverage from the Smithsonian's S. Dillon Ripley Center
Historian Dan Albert talked about his book, Are We There Yet?, in which he chronicles the history of U.S. autos and argues against driverless cars.
