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"Traffic circles are ubiquitous in France, accepted as safer than traditional intersections. But they have also become an emblem of the country's ailments, from urban sprawl to inequality. France loves its roundabouts. They are ubiquitous throughout the country, including in Abbeville, a city of about 25,000. Credit...Aurelien Breeden/The New York Times By Aurelien Breeden Dec. 25, 2019 ABBEVILLE, France - Every day, about 65,000 vehicles cruise through the center of Abbeville, passing by its Gothic church, City Hall and rows of red brick houses, with many drivers on their way to the English Channel about a dozen miles away. But they never stop for a red light. None exist in this town of about 25,000 people. Instead, drivers bank, swerve and loop their way through traffic circle after traffic circle. Their ubiquity in Abbeville is an extreme example of France's unabashed embrace of the roundabout, found in abundance throughout the country and widely credited for making roads safer and less clogged. Even in Abbeville, on a recent morning, workers in fluorescent orange vests and hard hats were breaking ground on yet another traffic circle, as cars were backed up by the construction. Roundabouts played a central role in the Yellow Vests protests, when demonstrators occupied hundreds of the nation's roundabouts, blocking traffic as a way to demonstrate against a despised fuel tax increase in particular and a growing sense of inequality in general. But France's relationship with them has in some ways soured, their very pervasiveness making them a convenient scapegoat for many of France's ills, real or perceived. Pierre Vermeren, a French historian writing in Le Figaro last year, said roundabouts were a "symbol of ugly France" and the "emblem of French malaise." There are no official statistics, but estimates of the total number of traffic circles in France range from 20,000 to 50,000. In the United States - about 18 times bigger and five

"For those who are either unwilling or unable to own a home, self-driving van houses could become a convenient and affordable solution.  Soon, our mobile driverless vehicles may allow us to work from our cars and have our laundry and a hot meal delivered at the same time. In Los Angeles alone, it is estimated that 15,000 people are already living in their cars and in most countries it is perfectly legal to live in your vehicle. The consequences of autonomous home living are far-reaching. It could radically reduce carbon footprints and living expenses by combining all transportation and housing needs in one space.  The new need for overnight parking creates new economic and social opportunities. New types of pop-up communities will emerge with charging stations, retail stores, laundry facilities, restaurants, and social spaces. The freedom of a van-home lifestyle suggests new modes of living which include more leisure time and less time tethered to a job. The impact on cities, economies, infrastructures, inter-city travel, and the way we live and organize ourselves are immeasurable and scarcely completely imagined. As Volvo says "Why fly when you can be driven?" Soon you may be able to avoid airport lines and delays. You will be able to arrive at your destination rested and refreshed after being driven overnight in your personal portable bedroom."

"We mainly know drive-thrus from fast food restaurants, but in London shoppers can now pick up their purchases while sitting in their car as department store Selfridges offers the first drive-thru service for luxury products. Through the store's the so-called Click & Collect service, customers can buy the items of their choice online and select a day to pick them up."

"Visitors could sign out a special edition bike with the option to purchase it The enormous usage success of NYC's Citibike program has spawned a lot of other cities to create their own network. For the first time, a bicycle manufacturer has gotten inspired by the idea and created a popup bike share system of their own. Biomega brought 100 special Design Miami/ editions of their new NYC two speed bike and provided visitors to the show with complimentary loans to ride them around South Beach. Biomega supplied locks so riders could make a stops where they wished."