Another Self-Driving bus to begin operation in Europe

https://www.lyonmag.com/article/82146/lyon-la-navette-gratuite-et-autonome-navya-operationnelle-a-la-confluence-en-septembre

Luckily, I had a half year of French in 4th grade otherwise I would be at a loss reading the article. 
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​More below the fold.

Google did this translation so I wouldn't need to type out all the French gobble-de-gook. 

"It was only a matter of time. And it is now official. Two Navya Arma arrive in the Confluence district in September.
These shuttles driverless, 100% autonomous and fully electric task will be to carry passengers between the leisure division and Confluence shopping and the tip of the peninsula, up to the GL Events seat.

They borrow it for the quai Rambaud, along the Saône. Simple adjustments will be made this summer as the old rails comblage docks, which also will relieve the cyclists that were likely to make gliding flights after their front wheel is locked inside.
 
Navya The company, led by Christophe Sapet, Bruno Bonnell former partner and co-founder with him of Infogrames and propose this 1.3 km race in 10 minutes to 0 euro. The free model does not really raced Sytral, but the union of public transport has finally agreed to Navya that can coexist with TCL, including the S1 bus line serving the Confluence.
 
This is also because Gérard Collomb was one of the first to believe in this initiative which is unique in France. In 2012, Senator-Mayor of Lyon had tested the vehicle Republic Street and had invited the press. Further tests were then carried out by the Metropolis of Lyon Rue Terme on the slopes of the Croix-Rousse.
 
To get around in space, Navya has Arma "lasers that sweep space, cameras and accurate GPS," explained Christophe Sapet us just a few months.
 
The Navya should be able to circulate in the Lyon area since early September, from 7:30 to 18:30 week. Despite the absence of the driver, the shuttle can reach 25km / h, safe for passengers or pedestrians."

Light rail should be seen to be in desperate straights as of now. Here in Portlandia we see lot's of bike riders laid low by the in-road rail tracks. Moving to a system of fully autonomous buses would eliminate that problem. Unfortunately, with the money already wasted it is very unlikely that the transit system will be inclined to switch to driverless buses. This does not offer sufficient graft, or corruption, it would reduce the transit budget, and headcount, thus reducing the prestige of the transit system. It would also cost less. 

Note the vehicles will travel at 15 mph or so which is about par for the course in city streetcar/shuttle bus operations. 

Here in Portlandia, our Streetcar travels at about 6-6.5 mph.

How Fast Is That Streetcar Anyway? - Portland Transport

"In fact, the published schedule for Streetcar shows a 22-minute trip from PSU to NW 23rd, a distance of 2.4 miles. That works out to 6.5 miles per hour."

Streetcars capital construction costs are about $60 million per mile! I have no idea how much the little shuttle buses cost to purchase, but there is no way it is anywhere near $60 million per mile. 

Outrageously Expensive Transit | The Antiplanner
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These new disruptive transportation modes are coming fast. How long before we see the first fully self driving Uber vehicles? How long before we see the first self drive jitney services? These will be door to door services not fixed rail services which require one to walk the better part of half a mile on both the front end and back end of the trip. 

Also, note that the price of this shuttle bus is $0. This will be a very difficult fare for our current public transit to match. And once it comes, taxpayers will be unamused at the idea of higher taxes to continue the inefficient, incompetent, and hugely costly current public transit modes.

Tick tock transit, tick, tock!

Here is a post about a self drive Swiss bus already operating on public roads.

Self drive vehicles on the road today!