In the real world, they'd be more like taxis and less like cozy little recliner-bearing offices. Smelly, worn out, and filthy. Not something you'd want to spend a lot of time in.<p>The problem they'd really be solving is parking, allowing downtowns to be more dense without huge expenditures in public transport. I think a more reasonable approach would be to admit we have just about completely failed (in the US) when it comes to public transport, put aside our pork for a year or two and build some.