Exploring the micro future of better utilization of public transport though shrinking personal space as first saw in the last post, we and try to see how this would fit in to people’s lives today and how it can steer the path of futures by trying to see what potential consequences are. We can do so by examining the micro future to look for the potential side-effects and side-shows.
Looking at the futures wheel we can organize some of the potential side-shows that can accrue if this micro future was widely adapted. This micro future is a societal behavior change and poses many potential side-effects both positive and negative. For example, public transport will be able to transport more people but can put these people at greater risks of theft. This could also have other issues with people wanted to opt out as it might be too uncomfortable for people or because of certain tasks people need to do are incompatible with public transport.
This behavior change can also have other large events happening congruently that can have large effects of society. Here is a list of some side-shows I have thought about:
Downsize of Personal Transport Industries
The increase in public transportation usage will lead to a decrease in demand for personal passage vehicles. The can cause a major downsizing of the car industry that effects the well-being have thousands of people involved in the design, manufacturing, and maintenance of cars.
Downsize of Fossil Fuel Industry
With decrease in car demand follow with it decrease in demand of gasoline. We will have surplus in gasoline production causing a crash in the price of gasoline that many people are already having a hard time with.
Change in Urban Development
The shrinking in personal space can result in increase in density around major urban areas. This could also drastically change the way we design our urban areas from the current car centered design to a public transport centered design.