Waymo’s robo taxis offering rides in S.F.
Some San Franciscans now can hail a robo-car ride courtesy of Waymo, the autonomous car maker backed by Google parent Alphabet.
Waymo said Tuesday it has started a pilot program for regular people to join its “Trusted Tester” program. Selected participants will be able to use its app to hail free rides in the company's self-driving, white, electric Jaguar I-Pace cars, which will have backup drivers behind the wheel.
Waymo is being closemouthed about details, including how people can score the Willy Wonka golden ticket for robo rides to their errands, work, school and other in-city destinations. The company said anyone can download its Waymo One app and express interest in the program. Waymo said it is seeking a diverse set of riders with all types of transportation needs who will offer detailed feedback on their riding experiences. The company mentioned that it is committed to disability access, including rides for wheelchair users.
While several companies have been testing self-driving cars in San Francisco for years, this marks the first time that regular people can hitch a ride in one of the futuristic vehicles.
Waymo would not say how many vehicles it will deploy or how many riders it will accept. The initial territory will include the Sunset, Richmond, Pacific Heights, Noe Valley, Castro and
The self-driving, white, electric Jaguar I-Pace cars will have backup drivers behind the wheel.
Haight-Ashbury neighborhoods, and will expand over time, the company said. COVID precautions will include riders agreeing to wear masks, roll down windows, use provided sanitization products and refrain from riding if they are sick. The air in the cars is automatically refreshed and there are clear partitions between the front and rear seats.
Waymo has already been offering robo-rides for more than four years in the metropolitan Phoenix area, including ones that no longer have backup drivers. The company said it’s provided thousands of fully autonomous rides since October 2020.
Waymo said it started last week with a select group of riders and is now expanding the program. It previously gave robo rides to its employees in San Francisco, as does rival Cruise, a General Motors offshoot that is based in the city.