Do androids dream of electric cars? : public transit in the age of Google, Uber, and Elon Musk

Public transportation is in crisis. Through an assessment of the history of automobility in North America, the “three revolutions” in automotive transportation, as well as the current work of committed people advocating for a different way forward, James Wilt imagines what public transit should look like in order to be green and equitable. Wilt considers environment and climate change, economic and racial inequality, urban density, accessibility and safety, work and labour unions, privacy and control of personal data, as well as the importance of public and democratic decision-making. Based on interviews with more than forty experts, including community activists, academics, transit planners, authors, and journalists, Do Androids Dream of Electric Cars? explores our ability to exert power over how cities are built and for whom. "Public transit in North America is in crisis. Ridership is down, fares are up, breakdowns more frequent, and in some cities trains are delayed because the tracks are literally on fire. Meanwhile, ride-sharing platforms like Uber and Lyft offer an alternative to standing on a crowded bus. And the electric and self-driving car manufacturers like Tesla and Goo¬gle's Waymo promise a sustainable future without accidents caused by human error. But does Silicon Valley really have the right plans for moving us around and saving the planet? James Wilt takes a closer look at the state of public transit in North America and the devious ways that corporations have worked to dismantle our public systems. He provides hopeful answers to the question of how we might make public transit affordable, equitable, sustainable, and efficient."-- Provided by publisher Public transportation is in crisis. Through an assessment of the history of automobility in North America, the "three revolutions" in automotive transportation, as well as the current work of committed people advocating for a different way forward, James Wilt imagines what public transit should look like in order to be green and equitable. Wilt considers environment and climate change, economic and racial inequality, urban density, accessibility and safety, work and labour unions, privacy and control of personal data, as well as the importance of public and democratic decision-making. Based on interviews wity more than forty experts, including community activists, academics, transit planners, authors, and journalists, Do Androids Dream of Electric Cars? explores our ability to exert power over how cities are built and for whom.