Today’s typical vision of the future city, how we travel, and how people interact physically and virtually is automated and mobile. As one example, Ford released its <link https: corporate.ford.com innovation city-of-tomorrow.html>Cities of Tomorrow campaign to sell this type of “smart” city. This vision is largely defined by the private sector and technology companies.

The limits of this vision raise legitimate concerns. How safe is it? How accessible and affordable is it? Is it sustainable (do we consume fewer resources)? Is it spatially realistic (does it create more congestion rather than less)? Does it meet our human needs to socialize?

In <link https: www.cnu.org publicsquare ten-rules-cities-about-automated-vehicles>Ten rules for cities about automated vehicles, Jeff Speck issued the “urbanist call to arms.” His defining questions boil down to this: given the difficulties in creating great communities now, how can we succeed when automobility is poised to get even more convenient?

The future doesn't have to be an all or nothing, and we can in fact develop meaningful city designs and policies using mobility technology to create positive human outcomes. But we do need to be realistic about how we create the positive outcomes.

While a growing list of guides charts the future, there are few resources to help us to get started now. This article turns the “call to arms” into a “call to action.” These “next steps” offer an approachable list of actions that can be used to prepare your company or community to create the human-oriented city of the future, using technology.

1) Define success

2) Prepare for rapid flux in urban planning and jobs

3) Engage communities, constituents, clients, and new allies

4) Adopt a new mobility resolution

5) Prepare for disruption at city hall

6) Design high performing, human-oriented streets

7) Take advantage of technology now

8) Focus on transitions as transportation and technology advancesAutonomous delivery pod in Las

9) Adopt pilot projects as an implementation tool

10) Continue designing human-oriented cities

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