Working on a distributed ride-hailing platform made one thing clear: optimisation is never neutral. A system can dispatch faster, calculate routes more precisely, and keep more vehicles active. Those gains matter, but they are not the whole public-interest story.
Who can afford the service? Which neighbourhoods receive dependable coverage? What information is collected about riders and drivers, and who can challenge a decision that affects them? These questions belong in the design process from the beginning, rather than as a policy layer added after launch.
My interest in sustainable transportation is rooted in this tension. I want to investigate mobility systems that are technically robust while also helping cities become less extractive, more accessible, and more responsive to their residents.
The best route for a platform is not automatically the best outcome for a city.