Autonomous Vehicles as Public Transport: Perceptions of Risks and Opportunities for Mobility, the Environment, and Society

Autonomous vehicles can be used for public transport in the form of autonomous buses (also called automated buses, self-driving buses, or driverless buses). This study focuses on autonomous buses and explores perceptions of their potential risks and opportunities for urban mobility, environment, and society. The study employs thematic analysis of qualitative data from interviews with passengers and stakeholders in Oslo, Norway. The analysis indicated some possible perceived gains from autonomous buses. If autonomous buses run with substantially reduced costs as suggested, this could enable an improved and more frequent public transport service especially in underserved areas. This would possibly bring environmental and societal benefits related to accessibility, transport equity, reduced car dependency, and reduced transport-related emissions and pollution. However, important perceived risks were also identified. First, reduced costs need to enable frequent enough buses to justify investment in this technology over other transport solutions. Second, possible unemployment of bus drivers should be addressed. Third, managing unexpected events and passengers’ feelings of safety are important challenges. Fourth, assisting passengers with mobility difficulties when embarking and disembarking is problematic without a host on board. Finally, environmental impacts from possible on-demand use of autonomous buses need to be evaluated.