Workshop on Autonomous Mobility Highlights Key Challenges and Opportunities for the Future of Transport
On Tuesday, 21 October 2025, a workshop on Autonomous Mobility (CCAM) was held as part of the European project CulturalRoad. The event brought together experts from various fields related to the development of future mobility systems.
Under the moderation of IPoP, the discussion featured representatives from City of Ljubljana, Institute for Civilization and Culture, PNZ, and Jožef Stefan Institute. Together, they explored when autonomous vehicles can realistically be expected to enter everyday life, what this transition means for cities and residents, and which social and economic shifts will follow.
Although technology is advancing rapidly, the participants emphasized that society is still not fully prepared for autonomous mobility – not in terms of infrastructure, nor from a social or economic perspective. It is expected that autonomous vehicles will first appear in controlled environments such as airports, ports, and highways, while urban areas, due to their complexity, will be the last to adopt such systems.
One of the central questions raised was the issue of ownership: will autonomous vehicles be individually owned, or will they be shared among users? The first scenario could deepen social divides and make such mobility an exclusive privilege, while the second could help reduce mobility poverty and improve accessibility for all.
The discussion also focused on the impact of autonomous mobility on total travel demand. Much like ride-sharing platforms, autonomous transport could paradoxically increase the total number of trips if it becomes too convenient and affordable. Participants warned that this “induced mobility” effect could lead to more congestion and energy use if not properly managed.
Safety was highlighted as one of the major potential advantages of autonomous mobility, since it removes the human factor as the main cause of road accidents. However, the transitional period in which human-driven and autonomous vehicles will share the road will likely be the most challenging.
The public perception and communication of autonomous mobility will also play a decisive role. If presented by the media as risky or elitist, public acceptance may decrease, slowing down the transition. Transparent communication and responsible framing will therefore be key to building trust and understanding.
The workshop also shed light on social equity challenges. There is a real risk that autonomous transport services could become accessible only to wealthier individuals, while lower-income groups could be excluded. On the other hand, automation offers a great opportunity to enhance public transport, reduce operational costs, and address the shortage of professional drivers noted across Europe. Autonomous systems could improve the frequency and accessibility of transport in rural areas and for elderly populations who no longer drive but still require reliable access to services.
In conclusion, the participants agreed that Europe should develop its own approach to autonomous mobility – one that prioritizes safety, sustainability, and social inclusion. Rather than copying American or Asian models, Europe should establish a policy framework that ensures a fair, sustainable, and human-centered mobility transition.
The workshop provided valuable insights into the future of autonomous transport and underlined that the path toward automation is not only a technological journey but also a social challenge – one that will require cooperation between researchers, policymakers, cities, and citizens alike.