In this episode of Look Both Ways, David & Wes discuss how robotaxis affect urban resilience after a blackout brought mayhem to San Francisco’s streets. As robotaxis expand in cities across the United States and Europe, how will they react to emergencies and unforeseen events? If autonomous vehicles freeze en masse, transportation networks could grind to a halt.

Other topics: 🔹 The quiet power of city sidewalks 🔹 Best ways to keep biking in the winter 🔹 The uncertain future of transportation & urban planning research under Trump

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Additional resources:

Info about the Waymo meltdown during the San Francisco blackout

David’s recent Bloomberg article questioning whether AVs really are safer than humans

Wes' paper with Peyton Gibson on the disparate approaches cities take to maintaining roads and sidewalks

Wes' paper with Nick Coppola about municipal policy impacts sidewalk availability & width

Wes' paper with Nick Coppola about how much static obstructions affect the clear width of sidewalks

David’s 2025 article in Bloomberg about Denver’s innovative sidewalk program

Crossroads, the “TRB alternative” taking place in DC Jan 15

David’s 2025 article about transportation research censorship under Trump