This scenario will depend as much on cities as it will on consumers, automakers, and tech companies. Planners will need to build infrastructure, enact enabling regulations, and collaborate with businesses and industry groups to make AV a reality.

Autonomous vehicles have the potential to transform cities and help solve urgent urban problems. But planners shouldn’t consider technology in isolation. They must take into account the specific urban environment.

For some cities, taking measures that actively promote other mobility options will generate greater benefits overall. And in cities where autonomous vehicles are the best option, city authorities will need to work hand in hand with operators, manufacturers and technology companies to make autonomous vehicles successful.

Although autonomous vehicles may not become a feature of urban transportation systems for another decade, players should act now to begin paving the way for a radically new and improved mobility environment.