With the vast proliferation of the mobile phone, starting in the 2000s we have gained access to increasing access to communication tool for consumption of information as well as interactions.
In 2015, the average American spent over 15’000 minutes per year in commute, mostly by car. With the autonomous vehicle, this time will experience a shift from more consumption activities to interactive, or, what is also possible, relaxation activities.
This means that the activity of commuting, respectively the distance and time spent might have in the future no direct impact anymore into the personal preference or happiness of the people. City planes, especially in the US, where vast stretches of land for development are still available, have to guide this transition to avoid further urban sprawl and thus avoid an even less efficient overall socioeconomic system.