The human-driven, fossil-fuel powered car has defined urban transportation for decades. Nevertheless, with our world’s rapid rates of urbanization and technological progress, the role of the automobile is being challenged. Not only do there exist more efficient and optimized alternatives to perform most of the automobile’s core tasks, but it is also becoming increasingly evident that despite popular sentiment, a world where traditional cars play a lesser role may indeed be better, specifically for urban areas. In this eye-opening talk, Shai Hirschl challenges the traditional perception of automobiles and presents a clear and balanced vision of the future of urban transportation. Shai Hirschl is city dweller at heart -- he has called Toronto, New York, San Francisco, Boston, Frankfurt, and Tel Aviv home. Between the skyscrapers, across the highways, and through the communities, however, he has come to realize that the challenges faced by urban areas worldwide have much in common. An ever-increasing proportion of the world’s population living in urban areas, however, and the urban sprawl of Los Angeles, the traffic of Manila, the changing demographics of Tokyo; these issues transcend cities, countries, even continents. Shai aims to understand, advocate for, and help solve the issues that many of these cities face, in the hope that the urban areas of the future will be hubs of innovation, diversity, and culture; centres of economic and social activity, and most importantly, sustainable communities for generations to come.

As Socrates puts it, “Not I, but the city teaches.” Well said. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx