One of the USA’s leading charitable organizations, Bloomberg Philanthropies, has released Global Atlas of Autonomous Vehicles (AV) in Cities, a comprehensive, first-of-its kind map that shows how city governments around the world are preparing for the transition to AVs.
As of today, the project highlights 53 cities working toward the transformation to a driverless future by hosting industry tests, organizing their own pilots, and developing proactive policies and plans. Bloomberg says the map will be updated regularly with new developments and cities are invited to submit their work, with the Atlas becoming a critical resource for cities to learn from one another and share best practices.
The Atlas was developed as a key piece of the Bloomberg Aspen Initiative on Cities and Autonomous Vehicles, which promotes knowledge-sharing and collective action worldwide so that cities can play an active role in shaping the future of autonomous technologies. The Atlas allows local leaders to gain visibility into developments in AVs across the globe, as well as the focus and status of pilot programs and their respective successes.
Bloomberg Philanthropies has been collecting and synthesizing that data for the map as part of an ongoing effort to equip cities for the transition to a driverless future. According to the Atlas, AV programs are taking shape in 53 cities that represent nearly every continent. Of these, 35 cities, including Austin, Washington, Paris, Helsinki and London, are already piloting projects. Another 18 cities, such as Los Angeles, Tel Aviv, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo, are undertaking long-range surveys or assessing the regulatory, planning and governance implications of AVs.
Bloomberg Philanthropies will track the work of cities across the globe and will update the map with new AV pilots and policymaking efforts that feature a significant role from local government. Cities were selected for the Atlas based on evidence that the city government is setting goals, mobilizing resources, and providing oversight and evaluation for AV efforts.
“Cities will play a pivotal role as the world moves toward a driverless future,” said James Anderson, the head of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Government Innovation program. “Cities are stronger when they learn and act together, and this map provides cities with information critical to their own success through this transition. This map will serve as an important knowledge-sharing tool, providing cities with what’s needed to not only have a seat at the table during this transformation, but be leaders of it.”
