Autonomous vehicles in sustainable cities: reclaiming public spaces for people

Abstract

The advent of autonomous vehicles (AVs) may directly affect current trends in sustainable urbanism based on recovering the urban space for people, active mobility (walking and cycling) and chrono‐urbanism. How will AVs affect the urban space and the mobility? How will they change the strategies of street and public space design? are relevant questions that need to be answered to prevent AVs ruling the city as the car has done. Decisions such as setting urban goals and planning ahead and encouraging shared used over ownership, will be crucial in guiding the AVs implementation and achieving the most desirable cities.