Technological Adoption of New Mobility Technologies

For my money, I like the Gibson quote: “The Future is already here—it’s just unevenly distributed”.If I don’t see something working in Dubai/China (rich elite with a fondness for novelty in countries within minimal restrictions) I can’t see it making it to the US.

The adoption of new mobility technologies*  follows a consistent pattern: a successful implementation followed by a rash of less successful imitations that devour capital, followed by a crash. Capital intense networks (canals, railroads, cable-cars, broadband networks) often work out some kind of municipal/state takeover for public benefit).

*Canals, railroads, subways inter-urban railways, cable cars, automobiles, broadband modern streetcars, car-share, ride-hailing, bike-share, dockless bike-share, scooters, etc.