I do think that the focus on private vehicles is problematic and probably isn't going to even be practical at first because of the lack of compatibile autonomous EVs.

If you actually look at the Boring Company's proposed system for Chicago you can see that it actually addresses most of the criticisms given here:

https://www.boringcompany.com/chicago/

There are multi-rider mini bus vehicles that are dedicated to the transportation system. It's effectively a subway / guided bus line (which is already a thing that exists) with autonomy and EV tech applied.

You break down the smaller number of large trains into a large number of small vehicles that can depart/arrive more frequently. The smaller pods can pull off into loading areas at stations instead of blocking the main line, and your routing can be more flexible since each car does not have to stop at the same stops and follow the same route.

In reality if such a system gets built it will mostly be an evolution on existing tramway / guided busway systems but scaled up a bit with some newer tech applied, and maybe someday the ability for private vehicles to share the same tunnel network and for the bus vehicles to extend out into the normal road network as autonomous road vehicles to get closer to rider sources and destinations.

I've noticed that Musk has a tendency to get buried in the weeds of what he considers cool and exciting and sometimes fail to deliver the point (and reality) of what they're actually working on in his presentations.

I couldn’t get past the first two paragraphs.. he claims Musk is a total liar (despite delivering on a lot of insane promises to date).. but is completely misrepresenting what this first tunnel is. To me the tunnel has been sold as just a way to learn about digging, and what they’ve outfitted now is simply to do something interesting with it that demonstrates what they have in mind for future projects.

I may tend to think well of Musk, but I don’t think I’m biased in saying that this is a pretty bad post. Very one sided, and not much reflection

I think most Elon Musk fanboys like him because he’s trying new/interesting things. Believing that he’s infallible and always right is ridiculous, but I would also say it’s ridiculous to not appreciate someone who is trying to solve real problems instead of creating solutions to problems that don’t exist.

"For Musk, the only way to get around the city is a car and he won’t allow anyone to tell him otherwise."

And millions upon millions of Americans. Quiet time in a car is sometimes the only solitude many can get in a culture that values it more than some.

This is a really bad post with a lot of completely needless personal attacks, with some coming right out of the gate.

Some people build cars and rockets and tunnels. Others write Medium articles. I know who I’d rather see succeed.

Why is this BS article on the front page. The author doesn't understand concepts of demo, proof of concept.

I would also vastly prefer a Japan-style rail solution to come to America vs. a tunneled car solution, but I feel like the author does not understand how design iteration works.

Yes, their very first prototype tunnel had paving problems. Anyone else remember what the first iPhone was like? Or the T-Mobile G1?

This article is just musk hate, no substance

This headline could use a little help from Shakespeare...something along the lines of "I have come here to bury Caesar, not to praise him."

None of SpaceX, Tesla or Paypal have been cons.

This is so typical of the tech press these days. They complain about the first version of something not being up to their standards and then write off the whole thing. It seems so typical of people who have never done the hard work of creating something new themselves. We should be applauding all innovators I just don't understand the negativity. Sure its not perfect, who cares? The next version will be better and the next version after that better again. I think they just feign outrage for clicks.

Wow... I could not finish reading the content of the article because the needless personal attacks and tone completely distracted from any information that was being provided or argument that was being made.