The rapid growth of private ridesourcing (Lyft, Uber) and microtransit (Bridj, Split) has been a challenge for local governments, including transit agencies. The tech media like to talk about private sector innovation as naturally superior to government, as though government’s sole role is to react. Local governments are harangued to “get ready” or “get out of the way,” as though they are about to be swept by some tsunami of transformation. Yet local government — cities and transit agencies — urgently need to lead in forging a mutually beneficial outcome, drawing out the benefits of the new tools while preventing their potential for harm. I explored these issues, in text and video, here.
A century ago our city leaders were told to get ready for an onslaught of cars. The onslaught overwhelmed them only because they didn’t have the courage and clarity to demand clear thinking about how to manage the new thing’s impact.
Read the rest of the story here.
No comments:
Post a Comment