Page 28 - Green Builder Magazine May-June 2019 Issue

On autopilot. Active adult communities in Florida have already begun testing autonomous cars, such as this Voyage G2.

"At CES this year, at least a

dozen companies rolled out

self-driving vehicles."

THE CHALLENGE OF MOBILITY
Seniors face many obstacles in our auto-centric world. Failing eye-
sight, anxiety, forgetfulness—these can make navigating a vehicle
too risky.
Virtual reality can help them feel connected, yes, but it’s hard to
imagine a future where “in-person” contact is not valued.
Are autonomous vehicles the solution? The self-driving car “indus-
try” seems to have sprung up out of nowhere in the last couple of
years, and apparently corporations intend to ram the idea forward, Personal pod. Tiny vehicles like this not only save garage space, but can
despite very low acceptance by the public. According to AAA, in take occupants where they want to go, any time of day.
2017 only 22 percent of people said they would ride in a driverless Another option would be small, one-person electric or hybrid ve-
car. That number went up 15 percent in 2018, thanks to an ongoing hicles that whisk elders to a holiday dinner, then return them safely
marketing blitz. home before bedtime.
At CES this year, at least a dozen companies rolled out self-driving One downside to the self-driving vision, however, is how it could
vehicles. Assuming this technology reaches the point of commercial negatively impact public transit. Buses and metro trains currently
viability and a ordability—which is still uncertain—it o ers new serve as a critical lifeline for both seniors and people of modest means.
possibilities for seniors and the disabled. Perhaps instead of owning Will public transit funding be cut o as resources are pumped into
a vehicle, they simply touch a big screen pad saying where and when autonomous vehicles and all they entail?
they want to go, and a driverless car shows up. This is not science Another solution for seniors might be a hybrid model. An autono-
ction: It’s already happening. A retirement community in Central mous vehicle or shuttle deposits them at a safe location, where they
Florida, called “The Villages,” o ers driverless taxi service for residents. transfer to public transit for the bulk of their trip.

26 GREEN BUILDER May/June 2019 www.greenbuildermedia.com

14-27 GB 0519 Staying Home.indd 26 5/8/19 4:07 PM