Cyclists and non-driverless car-drivers still need to know what to expect of other vehicles.
Until that utopia exists, bikes have to ride somewhere, and that's the road. Sidewalks are (typically) far more dangerous for cyclists due to short sightlines out of driveways and alleys. And driverless cars need to be able to recognize cyclists anyway.
> Eventually we'll likely see a bifurcated system where driverless cars operate at much higher speeds that they can safely do (say 100+ mph in some areas)
I agree that bicycles probably shouldn't ride in traffic on the freeways, although often they are allowed to ride on the shoulder of freeways today (at least in rural areas).
Sure; you can buy a usable car much cheaper than current flagship models too. I spent over 4k on my bike; the high-end market does exist (and is currently the only place you'll find electric shifting, but all these technologies gradually work their way down).
> If you want a small, self-driving vehicle, you might as well put four wheels and a roof on it. Cars don't have to weigh a literal ton.
A motor and batteries or fuel tank are always going to be pretty heavy though, much heavier than sensors and processors. In any case, I like the exercise and the visibility/openness. I'd expect self-driving scooters/mopeds before self-driving bikes, sure, but I'd expect them to happen eventually.