In this episode of Parking the Future, author and urban mobility expert Brooke Krieger narrates Chapter Six, spotlighting the cities shaping the future of autonomous mobility and smart urban design.

This chapter showcases global case studies—featuring European leaders like Oslo, Helsinki, and Barcelona—and turns to Lake Nona in Orlando, Florida, a U.S. smart city model that blends AV innovation with community-centered design. Each example reveals how forward-thinking policies, infrastructure, and partnerships can create sustainable, connected cities ready for the driverless era.

Topics covered include:

• Oslo’s electric-first approach, with robust EV and AV infrastructure and zero-emission transit goals
• Helsinki’s data-driven Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) model, integrating AVs into a seamless, multimodal network
• Barcelona’s smart city ecosystem, connecting AVs to digital twin simulations and sustainable freight and passenger services
• Lake Nona’s autonomous shuttle network, smart city infrastructure, and collaborative approach to education, workforce development, and wellness-centered urban planning
• Lessons for global cities on sustainability, equity, collaboration, and preparing infrastructure for autonomous mobility

Krieger highlights how these pioneering regions prove that autonomous vehicles can do more than just move people—they can reduce environmental impact, enhance accessibility, and help build healthier, more livable communities.