The Benefits of Emerging Mobility Pilots at the Local Level
Transportation options in cities across the United States are changing and expanding rapidly. In the past several years, cities have seen an increase in demand for use of the public right-of-way from a host of new technologies. Rideshare services, dockless devices, and autonomous vehicles, among others, are all seeking to operate and claim space on our streets and sidewalks.
Understanding the impacts of emerging mobility options often requires trial and iteration at the local level. Cities across the country are engaging their residents to understand local mobility needs and bringing together public and private stakeholders, allowing industry to work with communities to shape new technology around local needs. Due to their close proximity to their constituents, local governments are in a better position than state, regional, or federal governments to experiment with solutions to a variety of issues affecting local communities and quickly iterate when unanticipated incidents arise.
In Pittsburgh, we’re learning firsthand the benefits and learnings pilots can bring to a city that allow us to better prepare for the technology when there is widespread deployment.
A Local Experience
Personal Delivery Device Pilot
In summer 2019, Starship Technologies approached the City of Pittsburgh seeking to deploy personal delivery devices (PDDs) on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus and surrounding areas in the Oakland neighborhood. The use case was simple: to deliver meals to university students from nearby restaurants and dining halls. Although the use case was not intended to work toward achieving the City’s equity goals, the City was interested in learning more about the technology’s benefits and limitations in order to prepare for yet another emerging technology that was anticipated to deploy at scale in the near future.
In exchange for a 3-month pilot permit, Starship pledged to work closely with the City and Oakland stakeholders. Under the terms and conditions of the permit, Starship confined the PDDs to a geofenced area, limited the number of PDDs that were deployed at a given time, and reported certain data to the City. Before deploying, Starship met with Oakland stakeholders to introduce the PDDs, field questions, and address concerns.
During Starship’s initial pilot period, some issues arose, but the City was able to work quickly and nimbly with Starship to resolve the issues because of the trust established between Starship and the City and the lines of communication that were opened between Starship and the public prior to deployment.
One example of the benefits of public and private collaboration occurred during the second month of Starship’s pilot when a Pittsburgh resident who uses a power wheelchair raised concern that one of Starship’s PDDs was stopped on a curb ramp at an intersection. Because the resident was unfamiliar with the device and the device could not communicate its intention, the resident felt restricted from accessing the sidewalk. Roughly an hour after the resident raised the concern, Starship ceased operations of all PDDs in Pittsburgh to investigate the situation and review the technology. The following day, Starship and the University of Pittsburgh met with the resident and discussed what had occurred, the steps taken to update the PDDs programming, and the future of the university’s involvement in the program. Starship also released a statement of commitment to the disability community.
The City of Pittsburgh continues to work closely with Starship, University of Pittsburgh, and Oakland stakeholders to identify unanticipated situations involving the PDDs and to collaborate on resolving those issues. This pilot and public-private relationship has allowed the City to better prepare and plan for the widespread deployment of PDDs and learn lessons applicable to present and future emerging mobility options.
Benefits of Local Emerging Mobility Pilots
Cities understand local needs
Cities have a better ability than states or the federal government to bring stakeholders together and allow industry to work with communities to shape technology around local needs.
Cities are closely connected with their constituents
Close proximity to constituents and established lines of communication give cities a better opportunity than states or the federal government to experiment with solutions to a variety of issues affecting local communities.
Cities can quickly iterate
Cities have the ability to quickly address unanticipated issues or safety concerns that arise when piloting a new technology, resulting in safer and more efficient service.
Cities help promote innovation
Local oversight of emerging mobility promotes communication and collaboration between industries and localities to think beyond what already exists and develop unique solutions to a location’s transportation problems. Further, local authority encourages creation of mutually beneficial, tailored systems that introduce the right solutions at the right occasions to best serve residents and visitors.
Political participation is easier at the local level
Local pilots allow constituents to more easily participate in the political process, and a subsequent sense of empowerment may spur future political participation.
Trust and collaboration between cities and industry will result in a more successful services that solve real transportation issues
When industry partners with cities to deploy pilots, the result is safer operations, more equitable service, better permitting systems, harmonized guidelines and principles, and less conflict with public transit. Trust and transparency between industry and local governments are key to the success of these partnerships and pilots, and the eventual success of commercial services that solve the unique mobility problems the city faces, rather than exacerbate existing ones.
