Genius? Camp mode, Dog mode now S&G mode..?
Discussion
As an ex-cyclist I think this worthy of consideration...
Drones have a follow mode so that people can film themselves doing stuff. And at some point in time it's possible/probable that FSD will be safe and reliable. What about S&G mode?
The car follows the phone... A cyclist could cruise down the road with the car sitting 20ft behind with hazards on and a sign on the back saying `cyclist ahead'. You could leave all your tubes, CO2 pump, cartridges, rain gear and maybe even a couple of spare wheels, in the car and pedal on safe in the knowledge that no nut job is going to whack into you from behind. You would also have the benefit of the car's lights in the evening and of course the car is stuffed full of cameras and recording. No more circular routes and `enabling' for long and otherwise unsupported solo rides.
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Drones have a follow mode so that people can film themselves doing stuff. And at some point in time it's possible/probable that FSD will be safe and reliable. What about S&G mode?
The car follows the phone... A cyclist could cruise down the road with the car sitting 20ft behind with hazards on and a sign on the back saying `cyclist ahead'. You could leave all your tubes, CO2 pump, cartridges, rain gear and maybe even a couple of spare wheels, in the car and pedal on safe in the knowledge that no nut job is going to whack into you from behind. You would also have the benefit of the car's lights in the evening and of course the car is stuffed full of cameras and recording. No more circular routes and `enabling' for long and otherwise unsupported solo rides.
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langy said:
Sounds like a great idea, drop Mr Musk a tweet.... 
No chance. "I bought it before I realised who he is" applies. A great car but unfortunately he appears to be the latest in a long line of unpleasant CEOs of car manufacturers dating back to Mr Ford.Caddyshack said:
Getting run over by your own car would be hilarious
Hence the contingent statement at the beginning, but yes. I'm not sure this would play well on most roads in the UK. Using the follow me drone analogy, the Cyclist would have to be mindful of things like red lights and the time needed for the car to follow them through the junction, I could see a situation whereby the car has to either run a red to keep up, or be left totally unsupervised and hope nothing happens whilst you cycle forth unknowingly detached.
UK law requirements for motor vehicles included things like maintaining control of the vehicle, which i don't think you could achieve from your bike seat. Finally, depending upon how the vehicle followed you, I can see a situation where other road users will wish to overtake the improbably slow Tesla in front, and it might prove difficult to achieve this safely with it holding position behind the Cyclist. This would then lead to one of two likely outcomes, reckless overtaking with a chance of the cycle getting swiped as those overtaking are focused more on the tesla, or they aquire a long snaking train of vehicles doing 18mph and leave a wake of congestion behind them.
I can see the sunny minds eye image of a lovely spring day in the country with empty roads and just your pet EV to keep you company, but in reality, the roads are already busy enough without some road users bring two modes of transport simultaneously to the party.
UK law requirements for motor vehicles included things like maintaining control of the vehicle, which i don't think you could achieve from your bike seat. Finally, depending upon how the vehicle followed you, I can see a situation where other road users will wish to overtake the improbably slow Tesla in front, and it might prove difficult to achieve this safely with it holding position behind the Cyclist. This would then lead to one of two likely outcomes, reckless overtaking with a chance of the cycle getting swiped as those overtaking are focused more on the tesla, or they aquire a long snaking train of vehicles doing 18mph and leave a wake of congestion behind them.
I can see the sunny minds eye image of a lovely spring day in the country with empty roads and just your pet EV to keep you company, but in reality, the roads are already busy enough without some road users bring two modes of transport simultaneously to the party.
I'd envisage that the car drive itself without any input beyond navigation and knowing the location of the phone running the Tesla App. So it would wait for the light to change in the same way that any autonomous taxi/delivery vehicle will. it would then rejoin and take up station.
I acknowledge the concern about the potential to be an impediment to traffic. However, as a rider would typically be out on rural roads because that's where the traffic is light, there wouldn't be much of it. And it's still safer than not having this mobile crash barrier behind. One can plaster a big sign on the back of the car and since it's not uncommon on long distance events to have a following vehicle, this is not new.
I'd agree that there is some question of legality, I'm not sure of the difference between this and any other autonomous vehicle. Noting I am in the US where we already have cities operating driverless taxis and delivery vehicles.
I acknowledge the concern about the potential to be an impediment to traffic. However, as a rider would typically be out on rural roads because that's where the traffic is light, there wouldn't be much of it. And it's still safer than not having this mobile crash barrier behind. One can plaster a big sign on the back of the car and since it's not uncommon on long distance events to have a following vehicle, this is not new.
I'd agree that there is some question of legality, I'm not sure of the difference between this and any other autonomous vehicle. Noting I am in the US where we already have cities operating driverless taxis and delivery vehicles.
ShortBeardy said:
I'd envisage that the car drive itself without any input beyond navigation and knowing the location of the phone running the Tesla App. So it would wait for the light to change in the same way that any autonomous taxi/delivery vehicle will. it would then rejoin and take up station.
I acknowledge the concern about the potential to be an impediment to traffic. However, as a rider would typically be out on rural roads because that's where the traffic is light, there wouldn't be much of it. And it's still safer than not having this mobile crash barrier behind. One can plaster a big sign on the back of the car and since it's not uncommon on long distance events to have a following vehicle, this is not new.
I'd agree that there is some question of legality, I'm not sure of the difference between this and any other autonomous vehicle. Noting I am in the US where we already have cities operating driverless taxis and delivery vehicles.
Ah. In the UK, you are responsible for the vehicle, and your insurance covers you whilst in charge of the vehicle. Even those with "self drive" in the UK still have to maintain contact with the wheel as if they were driving, as otherwise they fall foul of laws like "driving without due care and attention" (to name justbone, there are others) which usually cover those who for example chose to sit eating a bowel of cereal whilst driving.I acknowledge the concern about the potential to be an impediment to traffic. However, as a rider would typically be out on rural roads because that's where the traffic is light, there wouldn't be much of it. And it's still safer than not having this mobile crash barrier behind. One can plaster a big sign on the back of the car and since it's not uncommon on long distance events to have a following vehicle, this is not new.
I'd agree that there is some question of legality, I'm not sure of the difference between this and any other autonomous vehicle. Noting I am in the US where we already have cities operating driverless taxis and delivery vehicles.
The UK has roads with a significantly higher volume of traffic in general than the USA (even our country lanes can be busy, single lane, and very twisty) more traffic means more opportunities to have an accident, and who then is at fault when nobody is behind the wheel? Tesla certainly won't volunteer to cover the claim, and if you're on your bike 3 streets away when it happens because of light sequences, how does the incident unfold? Does the car even know it just ran over a child? Does it stop and display your contact details so you can be prosecuted? Or does it drive off, and you're met at the door by very upset police who then inform you of events you knew nothing about and were powerless to change because you were nowhere near the event, but are now being cuffed all the same.
If you need a car following for an event, event suggests multiple persons, so now I envisage a long line of cyclists all towing thier pet EV through some unsuspecting suburbs and again causing mayhem.
Interesting idea, and probably quite appealing in that you can just pack up the bike if you get tired and drive home, but ultimately I suggest quite selfish when seen in context of the impact inflicted upon other road users in anything other than a perfect scenario where you're on a wide empty road with minimal traffic.
Some of your concerns are well founded.
Ex-pat. While my post was really framed in the context of use in the US I am very familiar with the UK and agree there are roads which would be unsuitable. My original post was really aimed at a) Tesla drivers or those with at least some familiarity with the idea of self piloted vehicles and b) cyclists who might do Brevets or other long unsupported rides. Squidgy cyclists and high speed metal boxes piloted by people in a hurry are intrinsically not a good mix, hence cyclists tend to stay away from busy narrow roads.
I wanted to keep the OP brief, so I did not definitively state that this idea would only be worthy of exploration if legal, but it was assumed. Autonomous cars are coming, they are already legal here in some locations and under some circumstances. I guess it's a matter of time.
Yes, a cyclist with following car is just as much an impediment to traffic flow as a tractor, horse, pack of cyclists or slow nervous learner driver, in short any of the myriad other slow and perfectly legal traffic. Any person who drives in an unsafe manner around a tesla really ought to be aware that they are on candid camera.
Ex-pat. While my post was really framed in the context of use in the US I am very familiar with the UK and agree there are roads which would be unsuitable. My original post was really aimed at a) Tesla drivers or those with at least some familiarity with the idea of self piloted vehicles and b) cyclists who might do Brevets or other long unsupported rides. Squidgy cyclists and high speed metal boxes piloted by people in a hurry are intrinsically not a good mix, hence cyclists tend to stay away from busy narrow roads.
I wanted to keep the OP brief, so I did not definitively state that this idea would only be worthy of exploration if legal, but it was assumed. Autonomous cars are coming, they are already legal here in some locations and under some circumstances. I guess it's a matter of time.
Yes, a cyclist with following car is just as much an impediment to traffic flow as a tractor, horse, pack of cyclists or slow nervous learner driver, in short any of the myriad other slow and perfectly legal traffic. Any person who drives in an unsafe manner around a tesla really ought to be aware that they are on candid camera.
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