Stuttgart, Germany is an appropriate place to think about the future of cars and traffic since the car was invented here (at least the light-weight car combustion engine) and to this day some of the most advanced cars worldwide are made by Daimler Benz, headquartered in Stuttgart.
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The Stuttgart train station tower boasts as an
iconic city landmark the corporate logo
of the Daimler Benz company headquartered
here (photo: ArchPlan Inc.) |
What if the biggest revolution in transportation isn't high speed rail, streetcars or the renaissance of the bicycle? What about a revolution that would bring traffic fatalities to near zero, end pretty much any of the current road congestion all without building any additional roads? What if no parking garages would be needed anymore in valuable downtown locations? What if ambulances, police and fire trucks wouldn't have to worry about inattentive drivers darting into their path when en route to an emergency? What if the next thing isn't an "after-the-car" thing at all? What if the privacy of the car could be combined with using the phone, eating or sending off texts while driving and it wouldn't be a problem at all? What if car trips would become as predictable as trains trips with calculable speeds and arrival times and the trip to the repair shop could happen without you?