<i>For most Americans, getting around means driving, and other modes are seen as either impractical (walking), a toy (biking), or just for the poor (transit). It&#x27;s a relatively difficult culture in which to improve alternative modes of transport.</i><p>Self-driving cars will go a long way towards improving this.  The focus needs to be on avoiding silly mistakes in the meantime, like sinking billions of dollars into new fixed-rail transit routes that will be obsolete the day they enter service.