I'm biased. I am a bicycle user as much as I can during the months of good weather. In a large city, especially during high traffic hours, I can reach my destination by bicycle as quickly as using a car or public transit. There is, however, one huge danger: to most drivers, a person on a bicycle is invisible. So many drivers simply do not see a bicycle rider.
Therefore, it is disconcerting to read that Ford and Google are in collaboration:
"... Want to make your car a moving computer? While in park, use one of those USB inputs to hook up a keyboard and surf the Web via Wi-Fi on a Ford-developed browser in the 8-inch center console screen. Drivers can also hook up a mobile broadband modem via the USB input so passengers with Wi-Fi devices can access the Web on-the-go."
link: New Ford Tech Takes Connectivity to the Car
additional link: Ford In Talks To Add Google Features To Its Cars
additional link: Have Your Been Entertained by a Ford Lately?
It is bad enough that, while operating a vehicle, drivers are using their cell phones, engaged in conversations or text messaging. Using a cell phone while driving has been compared to operating a vehicle while drunk. In the near future, when internet access is readily available in cars, there will be drivers who will be doing internet searches, answering email and visiting favorite sites, while driving. It is practically a certainty that will happen. And then, more activity on the streets and roads will become invisible to these drivers.