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Ahead of the TREND. Regulating Flying Cars. 8 Pieces of Intel.

The litany of regulatory questions for regulating flying cars:

  • Who can operate one?
  • How many passengers are allowed inside?
  • Can flying cars fly over roads?
  • What kinds of safety measures must be included, and critically, can the vehicles be manufactured for commercial use? 
  • Are they treated like drones?
  • Are they ultralight aircrafts?
  • What are the safety standards?
  • Can they be used commercially?

It is a new frontier with no regulations.

The Recorder | Who Will Regulate Flying Cars?

3 Reasons Ride Share Opposes a Ride Share Bill in Montpelier. Read the Bill.

The Vermont Senate added amendments to a ride share bill that turned a ride share cindustry bill into a bill that is opposed by ride share. 

What amendments were added to derail ride share?

  • Triple insurance liability requirements between rides
  • increased backgroudn checks
  • Annual registration requirements
  • 5 year grandfather protection for Burlington’s ride share ordinance

AP via Witchita Eagle | Uber, Lyft opposing Vermont bill

Burlington Free Press | Uber tries to sink Vt. bill about…

Lege Trend. Heavier Loads on Trucks. 5 Reasons Industry Supports it.

SB 1524 allows for heavier loads on big trucks when:

  • $5000 annual permit is purchased
  • traveling on a dwsignated corridor
  • within 30 miles of a port of entry/border

Supporters say:

  • anticipated 500,000 TEU increase in annual containerized exports of plastic resin
  • $100 Billion in new or expanded plant capacity along Texas coast
  • the rise in plastic resin is due to cheap natural gas feedstock
  • American Chemistry COuncil warned that without allowing for larger loads would harm the economic…

State Legalizes Self Driving Cars in its Budget. 3 Key Points.

State: New York

How did New York manage to legalize self driving cars in a budget:

  • waives the prohibition on driverless cars
  • allows a 1 year testing program of self-driving and self-parking vehicles
  • requires direct supervision of the New York State Police
  • minimum of $5 million in insurance coverage
  • state motor vehicle commissioner to submit a study by June 1, 2018, focusing on:
    • safety
    • traffic control
    • traffic enforcement
    • other impacts of autonomous vehicle testing

The Governor…

Local Government Trend. Self Driving Car Initiative. 3 Pieces of Intel to Know Now.

  • Portland launched an inititiative to bring self driving cars to its fine city
  • The mayor says it will lower traffic fatalities and improve congrestion
  • Local streets must be regulated by local agencies that know the streets best.

Portland Bureau of Transportation | Portland Launches Smart Autonomous Vehicles Initiative (SAVI)

KATU | Portland launches self-driving car initiative, wants pilot program by end of year

Local Gov. Trend: Public Private Partnerships in Airports.

City: St. Louis

Public Private Partnership Proposal: to lease its airport to a qualified airport manager backed by private infrastructure funds

Benefits of the P3 for Airports:

  • Cities can produce resources without adverse budget or ratepayer impact
  • Allows a broader allocation of resources when cities are starved for infrastructure investment

Governing | A Way to Unlock the Value of an Airport

Business Trend: Ride Share Co. $5 Per Hour Car Rentals.

Company: Uber

 Business Trend: Sharing economy meets car rentals. Uber will be offering $5/hr car rentals from designated pick up sposts around San Francisco.

How do regulatory and statutory issues factor into $5/hr rentals? $5/ hr covers insurance, gas and unlimited miles

Tech Crunch | Uber and Getaround to offer $5 hourly short-term car rentals for drivers