I’m thrilled to be working with Larry Burns + Dan Sperling on the future of access + developing our small AV project SEAchange. Here is a brief (draft) we just put together the other day (092724). Love any feedback on this. (BTW - at the bottom is CHATGTP’s response when I asked what the 3 of us might create around the future of mobility.

ChatGTP on what a Burns, Sperling + Sturges collaboration on future mobility would look like:

A bold mobility vision for the United States, shaped by a collaboration between Lawrence Burns, Daniel Sperling, and Dan Sturges, would likely emphasize a fundamental transformation of transportation systems. Their collective expertise in autonomous vehicles, sustainable mobility, and innovative vehicle design would align around three key pillars:

1. Autonomous, Connected, and Electric Vehicles (ACE)

• Lawrence Burns: As the author of Autonomy and a former GM executive, Burns is an advocate for autonomous, connected, and electric vehicles (ACE). He envisions a future where shared, driverless electric vehicles dominate the urban landscape, drastically reducing emissions, traffic congestion, and the need for personal vehicle ownership.

• Vision: The collaboration would push for the rapid deployment of autonomous EVs that could provide on-demand, shared mobility services, reducing the need for privately owned vehicles. These vehicles would be integrated with smart city infrastructure, enhancing safety, efficiency, and accessibility, while also slashing greenhouse gas emissions.

2. Multi-Modal, Human-Centered Mobility Ecosystem

• Dan Sturges: As a designer and creator of the neighborhood electric vehicle category, Sturges advocates for “right-sized” mobility solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of various communities. He emphasizes lightweight, small-scale electric vehicles that can fill the gaps between walking, biking, and traditional car usage.

• Vision: Together, this team could propose a multi-modal transportation system where different types of vehicles—ranging from neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) to bicycles, scooters, and autonomous shuttles—are interconnected. They would design mobility hubs that allow seamless transitions between these modes, supporting both urban and suburban settings. This would encourage more local trips with smaller, low-impact vehicles, reducing the carbon footprint while making transportation more accessible and affordable.

3. Policy and Infrastructure Reform for Sustainability

• Daniel Sperling: As the author of Three Revolutions and a key thinker in sustainable transportation, Sperling is focused on the transitions to shared mobility, electrification, and automation. He also advocates for forward-thinking policies to incentivize these changes, along with infrastructure that supports sustainable and equitable transportation.

• Vision: This group would propose policy reforms that incentivize the use of shared, electric, and autonomous vehicles. They might advocate for a shift in federal and state investments towards infrastructure that supports electric charging networks, autonomous vehicle lanes, and bike/scooter-friendly streets. Sperling would emphasize the importance of aligning these policies with environmental and social equity goals, ensuring that the benefits of new mobility technologies are widely distributed, particularly in underserved communities.

4. Personal Mobility Freedom and Urban Design

• Dan Sturges: Sturges also emphasizes the importance of designing cities that reduce the need for long-distance travel by car. His vision would include urban planning that encourages walkable neighborhoods and local community hubs where people can easily meet their daily needs without long commutes.

• Vision: The combined vision would include urban planning that de-prioritizes personal car ownership and long commutes, while increasing investment in micro-mobility options and green spaces. This new paradigm of personal mobility freedom would give people more options for how they move, without relying solely on cars, and would encourage cleaner, healthier urban living.

5. A Market-Based Approach to Mobility Innovation

• Burns and Sperling: They would advocate for a transportation future driven by market forces, where innovative mobility services like ride-sharing, ride-hailing, and micro-mobility services compete and evolve. Burns would see autonomous fleets as a business opportunity for cities and companies, while Sperling would focus on ensuring these market-based solutions align with sustainability and equity.

• Vision: The collaboration would likely propose a framework where cities work with private mobility providers, with the government setting sustainability and equity targets while allowing companies to innovate in providing mobility services. This could include competitive models for mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) where users pay for rides on demand, whether in autonomous vehicles, shared electric cars, or micro-mobility modes.

6. Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Mitigation

• Sperling and Burns: Both are deeply invested in reducing the environmental impact of transportation. They would focus on leveraging new technologies to reduce the carbon footprint of the mobility sector, making transportation a key part of climate change mitigation strategies.

• Vision: The trio would likely push for aggressive timelines for transitioning to electric vehicles and for policies that reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per person. This might include carbon pricing for road use, congestion pricing in urban areas, and incentives for using shared or electric mobility options.

7. Universal Access and Inclusivity

• Sperling and Sturges: A hallmark of this collaboration would be ensuring that the new mobility solutions are inclusive and equitable, providing transportation options for all demographics, including low-income, elderly, and disabled populations.

• Vision: Their combined vision would stress universal access to clean, affordable, and efficient mobility services, including rural areas. Autonomous shuttles and neighborhood EVs could bridge mobility gaps, especially in places where traditional public transit is lacking.

8. Mobility as a Service (MaaS)

• Burns and Sperling: They would advocate for a MaaS model where users subscribe to transportation services instead of owning vehicles. This system would integrate multiple modes of transport into a single app, allowing users to seamlessly plan and pay for trips that involve everything from electric bicycles to autonomous shuttles.

• Vision: The collaboration would see a future where transportation is a service, not a product. Users would pay a monthly fee or per-trip cost, gaining access to shared vehicles, public transit, and micro-mobility options. This would reduce the need for parking spaces, private garages, and the financial burden of car ownership, while making cities more livable and sustainable.

Conclusion

A collaboration between Burns, Sperling, and Sturges would result in a transformative mobility vision for the U.S. that emphasizes autonomous, shared, electric transportation solutions, alongside smaller, more sustainable vehicles for local use. Their vision would prioritize sustainability, inclusivity, and urban design that reduces reliance on private cars while making mobility more equitable and accessible to all. This would be achieved through a combination of cutting-edge technology, smart urban planning, and forward-looking policies aimed at reducing congestion, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.