Yes they are.

 Examples? ;)

Yes planners and urban designers study the mobility in the cities. Initially it was all about facilitating cars and automobiles but since last decade the comprehensive mobility with increasing space to walk ability and non-motorised transport has been looked into for cities. For rurban areas, the mobility and increased linkages would promote automobiles otherwise, urban places occupy still lesser physical space than human race concentrated on them, the country side is still open and pleasant. Development has paradox comprising viewpoints, urbanization is both bane and boon never mind keep thinking on mobility. Thanks

Thanks for the answer. Yet, the question is about autonomous vehicles, which have potential negative effects and Urban Designers/Planners haven't noticed yet this emerging innovation. Or, are they? Who? Where are these conscious Urban Designers and Urban Planners? Mostly I read about IT and Transportation specialists doing research in the topic.

Yes, they are. They are analyzing demographical and social changes and coming negative effects.

Yes, of course! Planners concern about the movement of people and goods so they are planning transportation route and hub.. examples the concept of transit oriented development

Hi Piotr,

in fact, and as far as I know, autonomous driving against the background of urban structures, or settlement structures in general, is still an underexamined field of research. However, there are scientists that deal with these topics. I would recommend to check out the work of two of my colleagues - who were also engaged in the large "Villa Ladenburg" project on autonomous driving: Dirk Heinrichs and Rita Cyganski, both from the institute of transport at the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

Best, Eva

Dear Eva,

Thank you for the answer. I already follow your colleagues' research. I agree with your assumptions (similar in my papers). Methinks urban designers (along with urban sociologists) have the biggest knowledge about spatial structures ("socio-econo-spatial"). Yet I find urban designers not interested in the topic. For instance they write about urban revival of areas which failed in the past but do not look at the future using their knowledge.

Sincerely,

Piotr

Piotr,

I would suggest you look at the work being done by the Google Cities Project.  They are at the stage where they are planning on building some model cityscapes in a couple of old airplane hangars.  They might welcome any inputs you have.. 

An important and timely topic.

Jim

The introduction of antiwalkability and restrictions to autonomous vehicles are possible inclusions in New urban developments but a difficult  practice in already congested urban circles with greater adverse socioeconomic impact on road users. 

Dear Jim,

If you mean Google Sidewalk Labs - I already follow them. Yet, nobody response to messages sent by their form ;) Methinks they get tons of them.

Sincerely, Piotr

I would agree with the comment that this is a phenomena that will only be addressed once sufficient numbers of autonomous vehicles appear on the road in some area.

Urban Designers need not wait till when number of autonomous vehicles on city roads becomes problematic before studying potential problems that may evolve. Marek, your question is likely to open up the attention of Urban Designers to this important observation/ area which calls for research attention.

while I agree to the above suggestion, considering theoretical possibilities, is not as satisfactory as being prepared to create a mechanism for data collection through the dealerships who may be prepared to provide data and also ways to collect feedback from drivers of such cars (for their needs and our needs as researchers interested in usage and impacts.

My question is being answered many times yet I suggest my friends to read my manuscripts in this topic for the further critique. The three papers with titles starting from: "Car-sharing...", "Driverless..." and "Mobility..." and all of them treat about autonomous mobility consequences in the different contexts. Yet I did not find urban designers/planners (as I am) researching this topic - only other fields professionals...

Dear colleague,

You might be interested in this research programme funded by the European Union (Partners: Italy: Roma La Sapienza, France: INRIA, Germany: DLR, UK: University of Southampton and many others). It is called Citymobil2 and it addresses, at least partially, the issue of the impact of such innovations on urban planning practices:

http://www.citymobil2.eu/en/

Best regards

d.

Thank you Denis,

I am following CityMobil2 for some time already :)

Sincerely,

Piotr

Urban Planners obviously study the behaviour and mobility within urban regions. But when we talk about solutions, there are always tow parts- Normative and Situational. Sometimes, the increasing number of vehicles in a city might be considered as a challenge. For example, New Delhi in India where Situational solution plays a better role rather than normative approach and hence everything goes to City's administration. Planners and designers may think about area specific mobility exercises with different modes of transportation systems in different physical areas of a city depends on the social and economic demand. 

Here are two additional sources that deal with the topic - a report from the Florida State University and Florida DOT & presentations from a TRB webinar series:

http://www.automatedfl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Envisioning-Floridas-Future-Final-Report-BDV30-TWO-934-10.pdf

http://www.trb.org/ElectronicSessions/Blurbs/174500.aspx

Best, Eva