Episode 13: Lessons From a Robotaxi Meltdown + How We Bike All Winter (or Not)
In this episode of Look Both Ways, David & Wes discuss how robotaxis affect urban resilience after a blackout brought mayhem to San Francisco’s streets. As robotaxis expand in cities across the United States and Europe, how will they react to emergencies and unforeseen events? If autonomous vehicles freeze en masse, transportation networks could grind to a halt.
Other topics:
🔹 The quiet power of city sidewalks
🔹 Best ways to keep biking in the winter
🔹 The uncertain future of transportation & urban planning research under Trump
Stay tuned for biweekly conversations about all things transportation.
Additional resources:
Info about the Waymo meltdown during the San Francisco blackout
David’s recent Bloomberg article questioning whether AVs really are safer than humans
Wes' paper with Nick Coppola about municipal policy impacts sidewalk availability & width
Wes' paper with Nick Coppola about how much static obstructions affect the clear width of sidewalks
David’s 2025 article in Bloomberg about Denver’s innovative sidewalk program
Crossroads, the “TRB alternative” taking place in DC Jan 15
David’s 2025 article about transportation research censorship under Trump
