Redesigning Commuting With the 'Stillness Bus'

Think tanks, auto makers, and entrepreneurs have long been speculating on how people will move around cities in the future. Self-driving taxis and buses are nearing reality, streets are becoming more bike friendly, and initiatives are already in place to try to curb distracted walking.

Earlier this year, Ford Motor Company injected a dose of fantastical creativity into this endeavor with the “Mobility Speculations” challenge. Students at the Parsons School of Design’s Transdisciplinary Design program were charged with coming up with speculative solutions to some of the most pressing problems surrounding urban mobility. But Ford didn’t want just another idea for, say, a self-driving car. Instead, the company challenged students to tackle issues like increasing urban populations, traffic congestion, and even commuters’ mental health.