A future where we have better cars is a waste. For long distances, we should build trains. For short distances in cities, we have buses, trams, bikes. This technology already exists and is very good, it’s just not supported by the government-business hybrid that runs the US.
Although I agree, as an urban dweller, I am quite anticipating a possible future with the total proliferation of self driving cars. If self driving cars reach a large majority of the road, I can anticipate local and state governments outlawing the manually-driven kind on urban streets. I personally would really like this, because human drivers are an absolute nuisance to urban life in many ways.
You can't use laws to make humans drive 25 on that road where everyone routinely goes 40. It just doesn't work, and the people whose houses are on that road suffer the noise and danger that results. You can, however, use laws to make algorithms respect the speed limit, because big companies will otherwise face big fines. That's why I want to see self driving cars.
Here is a typical example of narrow street with obstacles in Switzerland: https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8111357,7.1507033,3a,75y,167....
In a world where all cars are automated, establishing speed limits is presumably something you do once and auto manufacturers will be forced to comply.
Similarly, issues with cycling safety and pedestrian safety are instantly mitigated without complex study groups to examine why this or that particular intersection has seen three cycling fatalities.
All of this is assuming the creation of currently-mythical technology, or course
And buses dont work that well in suburbia and that is over half of the population. Only about a quarter of the US lives in denser urban environments.