Vectos

Thank you to the 70 guests who joined us at NLA for our seminar on ‘Shared mobility, AVs and E-Commerce: The Implications for Planning and Design’, presented by Professor Nico Larco and Vectos Associate Director Paul Curtis.

Professor Nico Larco who heads up the Urbanism Next team at the University of Oregon provided insight into the latest international developments in automated vehicles, shared mobility and e-commerce in the context of the implications on planning, development, design, street space and parking demands.

Vectos’ Associate Director Paul Curtis co-presented on Vectos’ international and national research and development projects, many of which relate to Nico’s research including the trialling of the first fully Connected and Autonomous Vehicles on public roads in the UK (Milton Park, Oxfordshire), electric car sharing and MaaS platforms amongst many others.

The seminar discussed the benefits that autonomous vehicles could bring in terms of increasing development density and value, reducing parking needs, improving road safety, connecting communities and workplaces to public transport and reducing single occupancy vehicle trips through shuttle services. However, AVs are not without challenges. Prof Larco stated that “AVs are not just a transportation issue”. In order to realise the benefits, public and private sector partners from transport, health, environment, planning, manufacturers and others must start working together now. There are implications regarding loss of future parking revenue, different demands on kerb space, unemployment caused by redundant jobs, changes to land value where carparks in suburban areas are repurposed, and the management of fiscal incentives to encourage shared and high occupancy use of AVs to reduce congestion.

AV trials are already taking place in the UK, and the rollout of Level 5 commercial AVs is likely to happen within the next decade. While there are still a number of barriers and challenges to overcome, what is clear is that we cannot ignore the technology – we need to start designing and futureproofing our strategic developments now to allow for AVs.

Vectos will continue to collaborate with Nico and Urbanism Next to ensure we are sharing our lessons and achievements across the Atlantic. If you are interested in hearing more about Nico’s research or Vectos’ International research and development projects and how they can be brought into your development projects, please contact [email protected] to arrange a meeting or a CPD session.

Nico’s presentation is available, but please note it is copyright and anyone wishing to reference his material should attribute the slides and/or presentation to ‘Nico Larco, Urbanism Next Center, University of Oregon’.