June 29, 20186 yr Smart Columbus Looking at Driverless Shuttle for Downtown A driverless shuttle bus could be roaming Downtown streets before the end of the year if a new Smart Columbus initiative moves forward as planned. Mark Patton, Smart Columbus Vice President at the Columbus Partnership, shared the news yesterday during a tour of the about-to-open Smart Columbus Experience Center. “I think the next thing that we’ll probably work on is…an autonomous vehicle purchase, and we’re working on that with the City of Columbus, the new DriveOhio initiative, and OSU,” he said. “We envision it running on Civic Center Drive, connecting to the new veterans museum and to COSI, and (back to the new experience center)…our goal is to have that running some time in 2018.” More below: https://www.columbusunderground.com/smart-columbus-looking-at-driverless-shuttle-for-downtown-bw1 Oh, no! This is the Columbus version of public transportation? This is the future of U.S. transit? lol...and no one is driving this thing. How many people fit into this thing? Given the huge size of Americans today....lol.
June 29, 20186 yr I get further underwhelmed by Columbus transit every week. This shuttle's attraction to Jake and OCD17 is enough reason to be leery of it. But this seems like a very limited route - linking both sides of the Scioto River and connecting COSI and New Vets with the downtown side. Definitely not a replacement of the larger C-BUS route that connects German Village - Downtown - Short North.
June 29, 20186 yr Maybe we'll get that monorail after all To Dayton, via Springfield Unfortunately our monorail salesmen have decamped to Austin.
June 30, 20186 yr So three years into this we'll have a 'shuttle' that loops around a single block? They could at least try out a routing that people actually travel, and that can't be walked in 5 minutes
July 2, 20186 yr So three years into this we'll have a 'shuttle' that loops around a single block? They could at least try out a routing that people actually travel, and that can't be walked in 5 minutes Hey now! There's the Smart Columbus Experience Center that opened downtown this weekend. ;) Photo-tour of the inside of Smart Columbus Experience Center at CU: https://www.columbusunderground.com/first-look-smart-columbus-experience-center-bw1
July 3, 20186 yr Driverless shuttles to circuit Scioto Mile, COSI, Vets Memorial this winter in ODOT pilot Driverless shuttles are expected to start circuiting downtown by December along the Scioto Mile to COSI and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in a joint project of Smart Columbus and Ohio Department of Transportation. After that, they will head to Ohio State University's campus. Not only a tourist service, the shuttles are a research project. The Smart Columbus initiative is delaying a plan to provide Easton-area employees a driverless shuttle from COTA's Morse Road transit center because the vehicles on the road today aren't fast enough to safely cross traffic on Morse. The calmer route along the river will provide data on operations and rider experience before deploying an OSU route and searching for a replacement to the Easton route that would help get workers to jobs. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/07/03/driverless-shuttles-to-circuit-scioto-mile-cosi.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 3, 20186 yr Behold the smartness: ODOT's DriveOhio smart mobility initiative released a request for proposals Tuesday for a company to provide, operate and maintain the vehicles along the Scioto route, starting with a two-month test period in October. Rides would be free to passengers in the first year, but fares could be charged after that, onboard or via an app. A human operator is required to be aboard to explain the technology to passengers and take control of driving if needed.
July 12, 20186 yr Tech Company Taking on Larger Role in Smart Columbus Projects Pillar Technology, a growing Columbus-based company that has been active in the autonomous vehicle field for years, is now also playing a significant role in the Smart Columbus initiative. A group of Pillar employees were among the first occupants of the recently-opened Smart Columbus Experience Center. The focus of their work in the new space will be the continued development of the Smart Columbus Operating System, a project that was pitched as the key element of a reorganization of the Smart Columbus portfolio at the end of last year. Bob Myers, Pillar’s CEO, is a Columbus native who has overseen the company’s growth from a small outpost in Michigan (founded by partner Gary Gentry), into a company that is nearing 400 employees and opening offices all over the country. More below: https://www.columbusunderground.com/tech-company-taking-on-larger-role-in-smart-columbus-projects-bw1 "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 27, 20186 yr Smart Columbus plans connected vehicle tech along High Street, Cleveland, Morse, Easton area Sensors and transmitters communicating with cars and trucks will be tested as early as next summer along high-traffic Columbus corridors, including High Street and Cleveland Avenue, in a Smart Columbus initiative to reduce crashes and increase pedestrian safety. Smart Columbus has released its plan for testing connected vehicle technology, a $17 million, four-year program under the city's $40 million smart city grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The system will include roadside equipment to collect and send data between vehicles, signals and central traffic management, and transmitters inside 1,800 public and private vehicles that will talk to the system and one another. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/07/26/smart-columbus-plans-connected-vehicle-tech-along.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 12, 20186 yr Smart Columbus, COTA seek app to plan/pay for trips by bus, car, ride-share or all of the above Smart Columbus and COTA are seeking bids from software developers to build the nation's first all-in-one, door-to-door app to plan trips and decide whether to use car, bus, cab, ride-share, scooter or all of the above – and then pay for each leg at once. The multimodal trip-planning app is one of the main projects under the $40 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant toward technology to make the city’s transportation system more efficient, safer, greener and better at connecting people with jobs. The specific app budget will depend on bids and negotiations. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/08/10/smart-columbus-cota-seek-app-to-plan-pay-for-trips.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 11, 20186 yr Smart Columbus halfway to goal of 300 government fleet EVs by 2020 More than 150 electric vehicles are replacing gasoline-powered cars in Central Ohio government fleets, halfway toward the Smart Columbus goal of 300 public fleet EVs by 2020. The city of Columbus is by far the largest participant, with 93 vehicles delivered and plans announced this week to seek City Council approval for 32 more. The city has pledged to add 200 EVs, each with its own charging station, for code enforcers, janitorial workers and police and fire administrators. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/09/11/smart-columbus-halfway-to-goal-of-300-government.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 19, 20186 yr Self-Driving Shuttle Unveiled, Test Runs Starting this Week A plan from to run a self-driving shuttle bus in a loop between the Scioto Peninsula and the new Smart Columbus Experience Center was first announced last summer. Today it was revealed that Michigan-based startup May Mobility will be operating the shuttles, and that other routes could be added in the future. Testing of the all-electric vehicles will begin this week, and the shuttles will begin accepting passengers in December. The project “will eventually include shuttles deployed to multiple routes,” according to a press release. More below: https://www.columbusunderground.com/self-driving-shuttles-unveiled-test-runs-starting-this-week-bw1 https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/09/19/startup-is-behind-the-driverless-shuttles-starting.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 20, 20186 yr ^ More about this from the Dispatch: http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180919/first-autonomous-shuttle-will-start-driving-around-columbus
September 20, 20186 yr ^ And more from Business First (with a 2-minute video of the driverless shuttle and the company behind it at the link) https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/09/19/say-hi-to-mimi-one-ofthe-driverless-shuttles.html
November 20, 20186 yr Smart Columbus offering $3K EV rebates to taxis, Uber, Lyft and other rideshare drivers Individual rideshare drivers for services including Uber and Lyft can apply for $3,000 grants toward an electric vehicle under expansion of a Smart Columbus program that had been open only to larger fleets. The public-private initiative on Tuesday announced a new round of $90,000 in incentives for 30 vehicles, funded by the $10 million Paul G. Allen Philanthropies grant toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions that was part of the Smart City Challenge win. Drivers can apply online for the grant for EVs purchased today through April 15. The program is open to state-registered transportation network companies and their drivers, van or limo commuter services and taxi operators. Only fully electric vehicles qualify. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/11/20/smart-columbus-offering-3k-ev-rebates-to-taxis.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
December 4, 20186 yr Self-driving shuttles to start circling Scioto Mile soon Self-driving electric shuttles called Smart Circuit will start circling downtown tourist spots on Monday. The public can get free rides for at least the first year on the 1.5-mile route circuiting stops by COSI, the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, Smart Columbus visitor center and Bicentennial Park. Smart Columbus, the state's DriveOhio initiative and Ohio State University will study the demonstration route to help plan future driverless technology deployments in the state. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/12/04/self-driving-shuttles-to-start-circling-scioto.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
December 4, 20186 yr Very interesting, but of course there are no structural advantages over the good old shuttle bus until they can function without an operator. And that may be decades away www.cincinnatiideas.com
December 5, 20186 yr Given the non-union status and flexible operational hierarchy of the Cincinnati Bell Connector, it seems to me that would be a more rational place to start autonomous vehicle development in Ohio. At least any that is publicly backed. (The most obvious place would be the Red Line in Cleveland, if labor rights weren't a concern.) Like @thebillshark says, I just don't see this tech coming into its own for decades to come. But adding tracks into the mix would accelerate that timeline considerably. (It's already been accomplished for tracks with fully dedicated right-of-way.) Curious to see where DeWine goes with the DriveOhio stuff.
December 17, 20186 yr Got a chance to ride in one of the autonomous shuttles this weekend... Oye So, I've honestly been a massive skeptic/realist regarding vehicle autonomy and it's practicality (which I often get told I am wrong about). So this weekend I decided it was time to go take a look for myself and ask some questions. When I got in the shuttle the first thing the driver did was inform me that due to rain, the fleet are not running autonomous currently... Interesting. So I decided to still take the loop and talk with the driver, really try and hear the details. One of the first things the driver discusses was how absolutely nerve wracking it is when its in autonomous mode, however I do believe that this is the case with any new tech, human nature. However one of the most eye opening things I was told were regarding the limitations of autonomous currently. The driver began to that the reason they can't operate autonomous in the rain is because of the vehicles sensors, basically it sees rain drops as solid objects in its way and will stop operations. The driver continued to elaborate that this is the same case with snow, a blowing leaf, squirrel, and even puddles or car exhaust that is visible. Honestly, I don't even know how one would begin to program these things out of the vehicles triggers and overall it kind of solidified my thoughts on the realities of autonomous vehicles (at least in our lifetime) becoming the standard. TL:DR - They can't function in weather or in any normal road conditions. Hopefully, you all get a chance to check them out and ask some questions yourselves. Beautiful tech and design but for sure has a longggg way to go.
December 21, 20186 yr Hmmm, it's almost like we have mankind's most honest World's Fair Exhibit right here in town.
January 18, 20196 yr Self-Driving Shuttle Planned for Linden A second self-driving shuttle could be roaming the streets of Columbus as soon as this fall. Smart Columbus has announced plans to establish a route in Linden for a vehicle that would function like the Smart Circuit shuttle that started operating downtown in December. The new route would connect the St. Stephens Community House, at 1500 E. 17th Ave., to the Linden Transit Center, at the corner of 11th and Cleveland avenues, a distance of about a mile and a half. In between, stops would be made at the Douglas Community Recreation Center and the Rosewind Resident Council. More below: https://www.columbusunderground.com/self-driving-shuttle-planned-for-linden-bw1 "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
May 21, 20196 yr ^ More about the free self driving shuttles expected in Linden before the end of 2019: https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/free-self-driving-shuttles-expected-in-linden-before-the-end-of-2019/2015887716
May 21, 20196 yr On 12/17/2018 at 1:08 PM, tlb919 said: Got a chance to ride in one of the autonomous shuttles this weekend... Oye So, I've honestly been a massive skeptic/realist regarding vehicle autonomy and it's practicality (which I often get told I am wrong about). So this weekend I decided it was time to go take a look for myself and ask some questions. When I got in the shuttle the first thing the driver did was inform me that due to rain, the fleet are not running autonomous currently... Interesting. So I decided to still take the loop and talk with the driver, really try and hear the details. One of the first things the driver discusses was how absolutely nerve wracking it is when its in autonomous mode, however I do believe that this is the case with any new tech, human nature. However one of the most eye opening things I was told were regarding the limitations of autonomous currently. The driver began to that the reason they can't operate autonomous in the rain is because of the vehicles sensors, basically it sees rain drops as solid objects in its way and will stop operations. The driver continued to elaborate that this is the same case with snow, a blowing leaf, squirrel, and even puddles or car exhaust that is visible. Honestly, I don't even know how one would begin to program these things out of the vehicles triggers and overall it kind of solidified my thoughts on the realities of autonomous vehicles (at least in our lifetime) becoming the standard. TL:DR - They can't function in weather or in any normal road conditions. Hopefully, you all get a chance to check them out and ask some questions yourselves. Beautiful tech and design but for sure has a longggg way to go. Yikes, taking a look at that autonomous buggy...no thanks. It's especially nerve wracking and in human nature when that new tech can literally cost you your life.
May 22, 20196 yr Smart Columbus selects vendor for Linden self-driving shuttle Smart Columbus has chosen a new vendor for its second autonomous shuttle route, this one providing free rides in the Linden neighborhood to more easily reach jobs and services. EasyMile operates a 12-person autonomous shuttle for the public transit system in Denver, the U.S. base for the French company. Its Linden shuttle launching in November will look similar but with a colorful Smart Columbus wrap. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/05/21/smart-columbus-selects-vendor-for-linden-self.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 17, 20195 yr NY Times...Smart Cities are dumb: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/16/opinion/smart-cities.html
October 7, 20195 yr The self-driving shuttle that circled the downtown riverfront and stopped at tourist spots along the Scioto Mile ended September 27. Apparently, this technology demonstration route was intended to be temporary and the contract Smart Columbus had with May Mobility was only for one year. More about this at the below link: https://www.columbusunderground.com/transportation-roundup-last-day-set-for-downtown-shuttle-bw1
October 7, 20195 yr As the downtown riverfront self-driving shuttle closes, another self-driving shuttle program is set to begin in Linden. The Linden shuttle will operate on this 2.7-mile route starting in November: Scioto Mile self-driving shuttle shutting down, focus shifts to Linden It's the end of the line for Columbus' first self-driving shuttle: The route that circles tourist stops on the Scioto Mile will end Sept. 27 as the program moves to Linden. The demonstration of the technology with Michigan startup May Mobility Inc. was designed to last for one year, said Jordan Davis, Smart Columbus co-director from the Columbus Partnership. The Linden route, meant to provide easier access to jobs and services, is expected to start in late fall, Davis said. The $1.125 million was awarded to EasyMile, a French company with its U.S. headquarters in Denver. The money comes from the $40 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant from the 2016 Smart City Challenges win. MORE: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2019/09/13/scioto-mile-self-driving-shuttle-shutting-down.html
February 6, 20205 yr Smart Columbus self-driving shuttle starts rolling in Linden Self-driving shuttles have started rolling through Linden, as Smart Columbus tests whether the emerging technology can help solve the problem of getting access to jobs and services beyond the reach of fixed bus routes. The shuttle made its first trip on Wednesday, kicking off a one-year pilot funded by $1.125 million from the $40 million Smart Columbus grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The electronic vehicles are made by EasyMile, which has its U.S. headquarters in Denver. This is EasyMile's first regular route through a residential neighborhood where people need access to services, said Sharad Agarwal, senior vice president for North America. The French company has some 120 shuttles in 28 countries, including about 10 spots in the U.S. – mostly circling downtowns, college campuses or tourist spots. The Linden route aims to show the vehicles are durable for longer trips and demonstrate that they improve access, Agarwal said. When the technology improves to the point of no longer needing on-board operators, that will lower costs even more. "If you can find the lowest cost way to move people, it's the best option for the community," he said. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/02/06/photossmart-columbus-self-driving-shuttle-starts.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 27, 20205 yr Agency Shuts Down Self-Driving Shuttles After Linden Incident A February 20 incident in which a self-driving shuttle in Linden stopped suddenly has led to the vehicles being taken off the road, not only in Columbus but in 15 other cities around the country. Two shuttles began running in the neighborhood on February 5, operating autonomously but with an operator on board the vehicle at all times. The shuttle vehicles used in Linden are made by the French company EasyMile (the city’s first driverless shuttle operated Downtown and featured vehicles made Michigan-based May Mobility). The shuttles have not operated in Linden since the incident, and it remains unclear when they might start running again. One passenger was apparently hurt when the vehicle stopped suddenly – a video of the incident posted by WSYX shows a woman falling off of the vehicle’s bench and onto the floor. MORE: https://www.columbusunderground.com/self-driving-shuttle-shut-down-linden-bw1
February 28, 20205 yr Linden driverless shuttle operator hopes federal review confirms vehicles' safety The operator of self-driving shuttles in Linden says it's cooperating with a federal halt and safety review following a sudden braking incident last week. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration temporarily suspended EasyMile's operations in 10 states after a LEAP shuttle made an unexpected stop while going 7.1 mph on Thursday, and a woman fell from her seat and sought medical attention. The trigger for the emergency stop was unknown. Smart Columbus stopped the service immediately and EasyMile representatives arrived on Monday. The U.S. headquarters of the French company is in Denver. Shuttles won't resume until the city is satisfied with results of the technical and safety review, a city spokeswoman said. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/02/28/linden-driverless-shuttle-operator-hopes-federal.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 29, 20204 yr Smart Columbus presses play on connected vehicles, Linden hubs, driverless shuttle Smart Columbus is launching – or relaunching – three initiatives in Linden and along Cleveland Avenue after a delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Mobility hubs with touch-screen kiosks and several options to connect to a COTA route, the Linden LEAP self-driving shuttle and a study of connected vehicle technology are ready to go – all part of the city's $40 million U.S. Department of Transportation Smart Cities grant. The public-private initiative is seeking 500 drivers to have connected vehicle sensors and transmitters installed in their personal vehicles, which will provide real-time safety alerts and help decide route changes on the way to a destination. Participants can make as much as $315 for answering periodic surveys during the seven-month study. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/07/29/smart-columbus-launching-linden-area-initiatives.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
December 21, 20204 yr Parking and Transit Apps Get Upgrades as Smart Columbus Projects Wind Down Columbus won the US Department of Transportation’s Smart City challenge in 2016, unlocking $40 million in federal grant money and a $10 million grant from Paul Allen’s Vulcan, Inc. Now, with the four-year initiative set to wind down, some of the projects funded by that money will end completely, some will continue with different funding sources, and others will be spun off and developed into wholly separate ventures. We recently checked in with the Smart Columbus team to get the latest on where the various pieces of the high-profile endeavor now stand. More below: https://www.columbusunderground.com/parking-and-transit-apps-get-upgrades-as-smart-columbus-projects-wind-down "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
March 31, 20214 yr Project Update: Smart Columbus in 2021 And Beyond It’s been nearly five full years since Columbus was declared the winner of the Smart City challenge and awarded $50 million from the US Department of Transportation and Vulcan, Inc. While some of the projects completed over the past half-decade have been fairly prominent, many others have occurred behind the scenes. “There’s a number of projects in our US DOT Smart City Challenge portfolio, and that includes connected vehicles,” stated Mandy Bishop, Deputy Director of Public Service at the City of Columbus and Smart Columbus Program Manager. “Some that are less visible, like our Pivot application. One of the most visible is our Linden LEAP Shuttle that is deployed in the Linden neighborhood.” Some of the other Smart Columbus projects include parking and transit app upgrades, connected vehicle studies and a Smart Columbus Experience Center. More below: https://www.columbusunderground.com/project-update-smart-columbus-in-2021-and-beyond-we1 "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 15, 20213 yr Columbus Partnership, city to continue Smart Columbus with focus on equity as federal grant ends The Smart City Challenge is over, but Smart Columbus lives on. The city and Columbus Partnership will continue to co-lead the initiative as a nonprofit organization and increase its emphasis on deploying technology to promote environmental sustainability and social equity. The initiative has delivered its final 500-page report to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which named Columbus the winner of its 2016 challenge. Overall, the $54.6 million project came in under the $59 million budget because of projects that were canceled or that shrank in scope. "It definitely showed us we can leverage technology to serve our residents better," said Mandy Bishop, the initiative's program manager from the city, where she's a deputy director in the Department of Public Service. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2021/06/15/smart-columbus-continue-under-partnership-city.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 16, 20213 yr The street signs telling you to download the Park Columbus app? /s Does the rebate funding for the EV charging stations count?
June 16, 20213 yr And that's the problems with all this "Smart City" business. With the flip of a switch it's all gone. No permanence. Much easier than moving a bus line even.
June 16, 20213 yr That's really disappointing. Assuming that the $90 million in private commitments all came through (does anyone track that stuff?), it's hard to believe that there's not something more permanent for $140 million in funding.
June 17, 20213 yr On 6/21/2016 at 2:31 PM, Columbo said: The Washington Post ran this profile about the cities involved the Smart City Challenge on June 9: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/can-a-wonked-out-reality-competition-help-save-the-american-city/2016/06/08/f5f0b3d8-112f-11e6-8967-7ac733c56f12_story.html In the graphic listing each city's application for the grant, here's how they explained the Columbus grant proposal: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/business/future-of-transportation/ THE PROBLEM People in poor communities such as Linden have worse access to jobs, doctors and data. They’re being “left out of the great recovery,” the city says. Many don’t have the resources, or even the credit needed, to sign up for Uber or a cheaper iteration of ride-hailing. BY THE NUMBERS There are tens of thousands of unfilled jobs that company reps say people aren’t equipped to take. At the same time, tens of thousands of people have been looking for work for at least a year. Infant mortality is three times higher in Linden than in the rest of Franklin County (25.7 per 1,000 vs. 8.5 per 1,000). THE IDEA Tackle the inconveniences and impediments of daily travel by tying together neighborhoods and connecting people to higher education and health care, as well as to training and job opportunities. HOW? Run an autonomous circulator in one of Ohio’s largest job centers, Easton, which is adjacent to Linden and which proponents say would make access easier for people in both communities. Distribute a smart card and app that cover everything from bus fares to ride and car-sharing services and could be used by those who are dependent on cash. With its mix of blue-collar, white-collar and older workers, and its diversity, firms such as McDonald’s and brands such as Victoria’s Secret have seen Columbus as the “test marketing capital of the world,” the city’s mayor says. Now they want to test-market tricked-out road networks. Their slogan: “Becoming the Silicon Valley of intelligent transportation systems.” “Some people say, ‘What the heck does infant mortality have to do with transportation?’ I say, ‘Everything.’...That’s a reflection of the quality of life in the neighborhood. Poverty is rampant. Violence is disproportionate.” Fixing those “social determinants of health” depends on having physical access to opportunities. – Columbus mayor Andrew J. Ginther Did any of this happen? If so, is any of it staying? Very Stable Genius
June 28, 20213 yr https://www.wired.com/story/us-smart-city-didnt-get-much-smarter/ America’s ‘Smart City’ Didn’t Get Much Smarter Quote “Our proposed approach is revolutionary,” the city wrote in its winning grant proposal, which pledged to focus on projects to help the city’s most underserved neighborhoods. It laid out plans to experiment with Wi-Fi-enabled kiosks to help residents plan trips, apps to pay bus and ride-hail fares and find parking spots, autonomous shuttles, and sensor-connected trucks. Five years later, the Smart City Challenge is over, but the revolution never arrived. According to the project’s final report, issued this month by the city’s Smart Columbus Program, the pandemic hit just as some projects were getting off the ground. Six kiosks placed around the city were used to plan just eight trips between July 2020 and March 2021. The company EasyMile launched autonomous shuttles in February 2020, carrying passengers at an average speed of 4 miles per hour. Fifteen days later, a sudden brake sent a rider to the hospital, pausing service. The truck project was canceled. Only 1,100 people downloaded an app, called Pivot, to plan and reserve trips on ride-hail vehicles, shared bikes and scooters, and public transit. The discrepancy between the promise of whiz-bang technology and the reality in Columbus points to a shift away from tech as a silver bullet, and a newer wariness of the troubles that web-based applications can bring to IRL streets. The “smart city” was a hard-to-pin-down marketing term associated with urban optimism. Today, as citizens think more carefully about tech-enabled surveillance, the concept of a sensor in every home doesn’t look as shiny as it once did. Very Stable Genius
June 28, 20213 yr This whole project was stupid, but you also have to question why the Smart City people even selected Columbus' proposal in the first place. Yelling "Self-driving cars!" and "tech!" causes smart people to make stupid decisions. “To an Ohio resident - wherever he lives - some other part of his state seems unreal.”
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