[anon98356]

> I can bet that in most big European cities, relying on public transportation + renting a car whenever you need is cheaper than the maintenance costs of car ownership (parking + insurance + gas).

That's already the case though. Having self driving cars doesn't really change the equation on that.

[rglullis]

It changes the amplitude of the difference, it makes the contrast more and more clear and it expands the dimension of what we can consider a "city center".

I could live carless in Boston when I was living in Cambridge or downtown Boston. I could not make that if I wanted to live in Medford, even though that is a bare 10-minute drive from Cambridge. A fleet of self-driving cars could be spread around more efficiently in metro areas and suburbs.