Made in SF with ❤️
Wondering if you should ride a Waymo in San Francisco? Fresh off the NYTimes, riding an self-hailing autonomous car is San Francisco’s new tourist must-do (suggested itinerary if needed)! In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about using Waymo’s driverless car service in San Francisco, approximate cost, and how you can experience it firsthand.
What is Waymo?
Waymo is a self-driving technology company with driverless cars. It’s a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc, aka Google. Waymos have been around San Francisco streets for quite a few years, as San Francisco is a common testing-ground for Silicon Valley companies. Previously, however, you could not hail one down. These cars mostly could be seen mapping out the streets to help tune Waymo’s self-driving technology. There used to be two robotaxi service companies, Waymo and Cruise. However, California revoked Cruise’s permit after there was an unfortunate incident in San Francisco.
What car is that? Why does it have a little hat?
Waymo uses kitted-out Jaguar I-PACEs. They apparently used to use Chrysler vans, so this is quite the upgrade. They have a distinctive cap, known as the “LIDAR dome”, on top to house the car’s LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors. The dome also includes cameras and radar, working in conjunction to provide comprehensive environmental awareness. It also lights up with your initials when you book the car! The cars also have additional cameras on the sides to help navigate San Francisco’s streets.
What it’s Like Riding in a Waymo Driverless Car
I mean, it’s a Jaguar, so it’s really nice inside! Of course, there is no human driver and there is just a large screen you can interact with. You are quickly prompted to buckle your seat belt and you can choose your own music and climate settings. My only point of comparison with Waymo was taking a Cruise self-driving car ride, which felt safe enough but also a little like riding in a newbie or student driver’s car where the steering was a bit uneven and jerky. Waymo, on the other hand, felt super comfortable and smooth. I felt like the Waymo drove way better than some of my friends!
Where is Waymo available?
Right now, Waymo is only available in San Francisco and Phoenix (Arizona). Waymo recently received authorization to operate further down the San Francisco Peninsula and other parts in California like Los Angeles, but has not expanded quite yet as of this writing.
How much does it cost?
The cost of riding in a Waymo driverless car varies based on distance and time, similar to traditional ride-hailing services like Lyft or Uber. On average, prices are often competitive if not a bit higher than other ride-sharing options. While Waymo has significantly upped the number of vehicles operating in it’s ride-hailing services, you will typically experience a longer wait time than Uber or Lyft.
How to Sign Up
1. Download the Waymo One App: Available on both iOS and Android platforms.
2. Create an Account: Sign up with your email and create a password. Sign up for Waymo in San Francisco is NO LONGER ON A WAITLIST! You should download it now and sign up 🙂
3. Book a Ride: Enter your pickup and drop-off locations to get a fare estimate and confirm your ride.
4. Enjoy the Ride: Once booked, wait for your Waymo vehicle to arrive and see what you think of the experience yourself!
How do San Franciscans feel about Waymo?
Honestly, it really depends on who you ask. I personally think Waymos are great and enjoy taking them. It’s super fun to show friends and family that are visiting. However, I understand some of the potential downsides as well — taxi/Lyft/Uber drivers understandably feel that this is just another way their jobs are threatened and it is still new technology after all. There have been some attempts to try disable Waymos with a traffic cone, and one poor Waymo also got torched (unclear if the intent was due to vitrol at Waymo or the poor car was just in the wrong place at the wrong time). I have several friends that actually prefer taking Waymo for privacy reasons (no one can listen in on your work call) or when they prefer not to have a conversation with anyone.
Conclusion
I highly recommend giving Waymo a whirl if you get the opportunity and see for yourself if you liked the ride.
