Children’s Mobility in 2050

Our Children’s Narrative Thin Slice takes us through two days of personal mobility services for Zak and Ashleigh, a 14 and 11 year old brother and sister who live in the bedroom community of Santa Paula. Their parents are involved in sustainable farming and localized food distribution.

“Here is how we see school-age brother and sister, Zak and Ashleigh, getting around in a future fully described on our website. (Link) These brief snapshots are derived from carefully considered future-casting scenarios of plausible social, technological, economic, environmental and political norms in 25-years’ time. See our future-casting process.”

“Mycelium is a large, mobility-as-a-service company. The Lee family subscribes to Mycelium’s Total Mobility Package. This gives them all access, 24/7 to on-demand mobility for all their travel needs via different, interconnected modes of transport. They no longer own a personal vehicle.”

“Mycelium curates safe, independent transport for their 14-year-old son, Zak and his 11-year-old sister, Ashleigh. This evening, they are going to soccer practice in Ventura about 12 miles away.”

“To get there in good time, their Mycelium virtual concierge, Jeeves, has configured the most direct route and mode of transport. Jeeves has asked them to walk from their home to a nearby highway mobility hub where they will be met by a small, automated people mover.”

“As Zak and Ashleigh get to the highway, a four-seat, driverless pod arrives with Zak’s name on the front. Recognizing their faces and digital call sign, a green ring lights up around the doors, which then open. The pod welcomes them aboard. 25 minutes later, the two arrive at their soccer club.”

“The next day, Zak is on his way to a weekend workshop in Pasadena, 80 miles away. Jeeves has recommended that Zak uses an on-demand air-taxi service from the nearby Santa Paula airfield. This is the quickest and easiest mobility mode for this route.”

“Air-taxis are part of a national network of on-demand, battery powered, pilotless aircraft. Carrying up to four passengers they can fly along prescribed air corridors at an altitude of 4,000 feet for up to 200 miles between battery charges. They take off and land vertically, so local airfields are perfect hubs for air-taxis.”

“Upon arrival, Zak only waits a few minutes before his air-taxi arrives from Ventura with a passenger on board. A robotic charger plugs into the craft. Other robots check for possible faults. In a few minutes, Zak is messaged that his air-taxi is ready to board.”

“At the Pasadena air-hub, Zak checks out an e-bike, to cycle the three miles to his workshop venue. Through his heads-up display a wayfinding map pops up giving him interesting options..”

“As Zak travels to Pasadena, Ashleigh and her learning-circle are taking a field trip to Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 45 miles away. They are taking an integrated, multi-modal trip configured for their safety and convenience.”

“The first leg is provided by two driverless people movers taking them to Ventura Railroad Station. Here they will connect with a hi-speed railcar that takes them to Santa Barbara Station. Here they transfer to another people mover that takes them the last few miles to the Museum.”

“As they arrive at Santa Barbara Station, Ashleigh glances at a dynamic systems map by the railcar exit. Her own heads-up display displays a personalized map showing her many interesting things to take note of. It also guides her, through heads up prompts, to a waiting People Mover ready to take them to the museum.”