Why tech billionaires suck at fixing transport

Tech firms promise to revolutionize how we move from A to B. But their flashy inventions are often not much more than glorified buses – which are expensive, make traffic worse and suck up vital funds and attention. Why is big tech failing to fix transport?

Credits:
Reporter: Dave Braneck
Video Editor: Frederik Willmann
Supervising Editor: Joanna Gottschalk, Kiyo Dörrer, Michael Trobridge

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Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:59 Traffic sucks
02:42 Flashy tech fixes
05:30 Is the hype real?
11:14 Real solutions
13:12 Outro

[DWPlanetA]

What's your city doing to fix transport?

[oskehcat]

We fixed the transit problem over a CENTURY ago. Trains are literally the most cost-effective and efficient way to transport anything between 5-2000 miles.

[artemaeus]

I saw a quote somewhere recently that said, "Electric cars arent here to save the planet, theyre here to save the car industry." I felt it was very apt. I definitely feel more dedicated bus lanes and cycle lanes would be a huge improvement, at least in America, anyway.

[piccalillipit]

*15 years ago my city [Burgas Bulgaria] ripped up every road* narrowed them, widened the pavements and put in dedicated bike and scooter roads - NOT lanes, separate roads and they put on masses of extra busses at a flat rate of €0.75 pre-ride no matter how far you go

It has utterly transformed the city. I no longer have a car - just don't need one even though I live 7km outside the city. Even my rich neighbors leave their SUV's here for days and use public transport, its just quicker and easier.

The center is booming -all thos e people previously stuck in cars miserable are walking and buying coffee and food and other stuff.

This year our high speed rail connection opens and then I can go anywhere in Europe

[christianokolski]

I used to be wooed by these techno transport solutions, but eventually and thankfully I woke up. Good urban planning, walkability, bikeability, and public transit are the cheap and available ways to improve transportation, quality of living, and environment.

[nevarran]

Because for them it's not about fixing anything. It's about tax dodging, advertisement, or diverting attention from actual functioning alternatives. Musk's Boring Company is a prime example of doing all three in the most obnoxious way possible.

[UrdnotChuckles]

Way too many of the tech-bro solutions to traffic problems really just seem to be a distraction to prevent governments from building high speed rail. Or any kind of transit or cycling solution, for that matter.

[erinrising]

I think part of the problem is they are being blinded by their own affluence. They only travel in private vehicles (be it jets or limos) so they can't see that public transport would be better, because that would mean rubbing elbows with the plebeians

[hippyvanmug]

Insane that companies in the USA are trying things like hyperloop when they don't even have ordinary high speed rail

[ScottAtwood]

Honestly, I believe e-bikes could make a HUGE impact on transportation, with a modest investment in fully connected cycleways. Cycling infrastructure is much cheaper than car and mass transit infrastructure, and people will voluntarily choose to cycle when there are safe routes. A majority of household trips are well within an easy bicycle or e-bike trip distance.

[SaveMoneySavethePlanet]

Techies simply can’t comprehend that public transit is already plenty inexpensive to build and run while also being able to provide great speeds.

I got tired of hearing all the “trains are too expensive” arguments which led to me doing a video on the cost to build and run a light rail line vs a freeway.

The light rail was $500 million cheaper to build and the cost to use the freeway was equal to the cost for LA’s ENTIRE light rail and bus system!

It’s just no contest from a cost and emissions point of view.

[martinsportfoto]

Trains, buses, subways, and trams have all been around for at least one century by now. They work, we know how to build them, plan for them, and how to operate them. And they are by now reasonably cost and energy efficient.

Of course we should keep looking for new or improved ways of getting people around. But when a new technlogy is presented, it is always worth just comparing it to trains, buses, subways and trams.

[ziemlichundead]

I love how the solution to all transport problems is always just trains but no one wants to admit it

[jamesphillips]

I am convinced that the hyperloop hype was designed to shut down rail projects (by blocking right-of-ways in high traffic locations). This lets Elon Musk sell more cars.

[ethandayley]

Would honestly love to hear more hype around trolley buses. They can be a cost-effective way for cities to implement non-polluting public transit on a large scale.

[AnimilesYT]

I follow a lot of urbanist channels, and the answer always comes down to trains, metros, trams, and busses to support rail networks.

On the topic of trains, if you are an EU citizen you can sign a petition to connect all EU capitals in a high speed rail network.

Edit: YouTube deletes my comments with links. You can google for "petition hsr eu" and it should point you to an official website from the EU

[zjtltro]

Yep. These are not ideas for fixing transport.
They are methods for profiting from transport.

[GloriousSimplicity]

The biggest changes will be policies that allow and encourage density where people are able to walk to the things they need everyday. Elimination of parking minimums and much of single use zoning. Allow housing other than single family homes to be built.

[logbinder]

I knew I liked DW, but by bringing this to the mainstream you guys are my hero

[Christiaan]

I think trolley-busses like in Eastern Europe are a great solution. All electric... tried and tested technology.. and the new ones even come with small batteries so they can cross streets when you don't want electric lines (like at tourist sites).