Policy Brief: Can We Advance Social Equity With Shared, Electric & Autonomous Vehicles?
Authors: Stuart Cohen, TransForm Sahar Shirazi, California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research* *For identification purposes only
Contributor: Terra Curtis, Nelson/Nygaard
A future with shared, electric autonomous vehicles holds many promises. But without an intentional focus on equity, it may exacerbate existing barriers and increase inequality. Policymakers must consider not only how to deploy this technology quickly and safely, but also how it can be used to improve the lives of those who need it most.
For more than half a century our transportation system has largely focused on moving cars, in part to support increasingly sprawling land uses. Overreliance on vehicles has come at a high expense to personal budgets, public health and the environment. Very low-income families spend, on average, over 30% of their income on transportation. For those without a private vehicle, limited access to jobs, education, health care...See more below.