Exploring the influence of private autonomous vehicles on commuters’ parking and residential location choices

This thesis examines how privately owned self-driving cars could reshape where people live and where they park. Using survey data and behavioural modelling, it shows that about one third of current CBD car commuters would reconsider their residential location if they owned an autonomous vehicle, moving either closer to or further from the city. A key finding is that self-driving cars may allow residential parking to be separated from housing. Instead of each home having its own parking space, self-driving cars could park in shared neighbourhood facilities and return home when needed, potentially lowering housing costs and reducing excess parking. These findings highlight the need to plan housing, transport, and parking together in future cities.