![[EARLY VIDEO] I Did It...I Rode in the Robo-Taxi](https://img5.samuzai.com/storage/4/ey/lm/ee0934-019e846b-9ba4-7fda-9f72-3b0df829f703.jpg)
[EARLY VIDEO] I Did It...I Rode in the Robo-Taxi
Added 2025-03-12 21:00:05 +0000 UTCIn what was a very surreal (and expensive) experience, I tried out the autonomous Waymo taxi in San Francisco. It was impressive, but it also opens up a lot of questions about the future of mobility.
Comments
people ride in airtrams on tracks which are driverless. This is just the next step
William
2025-03-21 03:42:09 +0000 UTCit's usually fine! it's the first time since I'm a member that it happened and don't worry even here in Canada in some occasion it appears like a "?"
Victor Rousseau Trépanier
2025-03-19 20:33:48 +0000 UTCYeah, I really don't like the idea of empty robotaxis clogging up our streets.
Miles in Transit
2025-03-19 20:31:03 +0000 UTCOh no!! I'll try to get that fixed for next time.
Miles in Transit
2025-03-19 20:30:31 +0000 UTCDarn, that would've been a great idea!
Miles in Transit
2025-03-19 20:29:50 +0000 UTCThe pricing could be different in different Waymo cities, maybe? Also really good point about drop offs - you could ask a human to take you one extra block or something.
Miles in Transit
2025-03-19 20:29:43 +0000 UTCIt didn't!
Miles in Transit
2025-03-19 20:29:07 +0000 UTCThanks for the comment. I'm pretty uninterested in what Tesla's up to and I'm not convinced that Waymo is crashing more often than human drivers would, but I really like that Washington Post article! My car seemed to be pretty good about yielding to pedestrians, but I thought the point about looking drivers in the eye to get them to stop was very salient, and I can see how a world with all self-driving cars would be much more likely to ignore pedestrians crossing. Thank you for that, that's giving me a lot to think about!
Miles in Transit
2025-03-19 20:28:53 +0000 UTCI definitely had that video on my mind during the reflection. Terrifying stuff.
Miles in Transit
2025-03-19 20:24:23 +0000 UTCGreat comment, thank you Mikey!
Miles in Transit
2025-03-19 20:24:08 +0000 UTCnext time bring a traffic cone and stop the cars
Random Transit Adventures
2025-03-18 18:17:13 +0000 UTC*gasp* HOW COULD YOU
Random Transit Adventures
2025-03-18 16:52:27 +0000 UTCI just think of jobs.
Bud W.
2025-03-17 22:10:40 +0000 UTCIt’s depressing that the big payoff we’re driving towards with of all the billions of dollars of research and all the fancy tech is just … cheaper taxis?
Robert Welch
2025-03-17 15:33:12 +0000 UTCI used to work for an autonomous vehicle company and it was so surreal my first drive in the car. I've taken Waymo a few times and, while the answer to the transit question is mostly public transit, I wholeheartedly trust Waymo to drive me.
dsop
2025-03-16 05:38:08 +0000 UTCThe trolley can't stop in time.... Like cars sometimes...
J dubs
2025-03-15 12:36:17 +0000 UTCmiles (and those around him) in danger.
Kapil
2025-03-14 16:08:32 +0000 UTCNot quite. They are required to steer clear of a sudden obstacle, but in the absence of a clear path, they apply emergency braking rather than decide the lesser of two evils. Personally I prefer that over the trolley operator approach.
Kapil
2025-03-14 16:08:04 +0000 UTCOmg this was quite an experience, you weren’t joking lol! You bring up some really awesome points, and they’re points that we’ve been talking about for a while in SF too. Most of the SF transit folks refuse to give Waymo any leg to stand on in terms of part of the multimodality of the city, much like with Uber / Lyft dominance here. I have a more nuanced perspective. *enter the peanut gallery* I think Waymo is competing for 3 types of travelers: - rideshare folks who have specific gripes with the existing rideshare dependency here - the introverts and people concerned with personal safety who don’t want to roll the dice with a human driver they don’t know - the curiosity foamers and alt-transport curious who appreciate the novelty of it As a persistent optimist, I think that most of these scenarios will actually push people closer to non-car transportation because they’ll get more comfortable with letting go of keeping their eyes on the road. Being in the “safest” car might allow you to focus on non-car stuff while being a passenger. I think this is one of the best parts about being a transit rider! I think it’s a solid half-step towards curing carbrain. I don’t think it’ll entirely consume the carshare (or even car) community. Also I’m a big fan of “Miles in Reflection” where you talk about how it makes your inner urbanist feel, preach mama!
HiImMikey
2025-03-14 07:25:54 +0000 UTCI took a Waymo ride in the fall and I loved it. I think robotaxis (as well as Uber and the like) should only be used to supplement transit.
Patty Jean
2025-03-13 23:46:25 +0000 UTCNot Just Bikes had a pretty spot on prediction for what the endgame of self-driving cars could look like, and it's pretty dystopian. But I will admit, it seems like it'd be fun to try once for a short trip.
Keith Davis
2025-03-13 15:39:52 +0000 UTCHey Miles. I think more context about Waymo’s record — and that of self-driving cars — is warranted: The feds launched an investigation into Waymo last year after 22 reported crashes or instances of unsafe driving. This probe would be the first step to issuing a recall. Waymo’s cars have also been observed failing to stop for pedestrians who are about to cross a street. The company said its artificial intelligence is still learning how to know a pedestrian’s “intent.” It is also “indirectly” learning from human drivers. In the wider context of autonomous vehicles: Tesla issued a recall of its cars after federal regulators found they could be set to roll through stop signs without fully stopping. Back to San Francisco: Some residents say the public was not asked for input before Waymo started using the city as a testing ground. 1. The Associated Press, “Waymo is latest company under investigation for autonomous or partially automated technology” (May 14, 2024) 2. Washington Post, “On roads teeming with robotaxis, crossing the street can be harrowing” (Dec. 30, 2024) 3. Consumer Reports, “Tesla recalls 'Full Self-Driving' because vehicles can roll through stop signs” (Feb. 22, 2024) 4. NPR, “Armed with traffic cones, protesters are immobilizing driverless cars” (Aug. 26, 2023)
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2025-03-13 11:11:46 +0000 UTCI suppose these could end up being a replacement for regular taxis, which most certainly do have their place in a city. But beyond that I wouldn’t worry too much about the transit implications, the issues you brought up will be too apparent for anyone to think these will replace public transit. When the first subways were built we still used horses and carriages to get around. New technology has come and gone since then and the trains are still there
Max
2025-03-13 06:26:45 +0000 UTCDid it ask you for a tip? :)
Eltiempo10
2025-03-13 04:11:46 +0000 UTCI took Waymo several times while in Phoenix, and in my experience the prices were very competitive with Uber. I wonder if that has changed. The only thing was that Waymo took almost 2x as long as Uber. Another thing about Waymo is the pick up/drop off locations. I was dropped off right in front of what was probably a drug deal on the side of the road one time at 10pm. A human wouldn’t have dropped me off there.
Peter
2025-03-13 00:37:26 +0000 UTCI really thought we were gonna get Miles in Music playing in the Waymo
Colby S
2025-03-13 00:18:49 +0000 UTCLol $50?
Darrell F
2025-03-12 23:58:01 +0000 UTCI'm really glad you did this video. There are about 1,000 reasons why robotaxis are not going to solve all our mobility problems. But Waymo has quietly gotten to 200k rides/week between LA, SF, and Phoenix, all while most of the country seems to think robotaxis are a thing that might never come, or might only come if Elon blesses us with them in 2026. The only way people are going to properly engage with the problems and benefits created by these cars is if they understand that they are real, they exist right now, and they are giving thousands of utterly uninteresting, uneventful, expensive rides every day.
Matthew Gelfand
2025-03-12 23:45:14 +0000 UTCif anyone posts anything positive about waymo, be warned. i will fight you.
Kapil
2025-03-12 23:42:29 +0000 UTCI ride an autonomous taxi everyday to work. It can seat 300.
Kapil
2025-03-12 23:40:49 +0000 UTCMany transit discussions involve a misunderstanding between what "Anyone can do" and what "Everyone can do". Anyone can take an Uber from the airport, but not Everyone can do that! And Robo-Taxis seem like something that anyone can do...but not everyone can do. Once they have brought the price down and enabled highway speeds, they might be a good answer for certain situations, but I don't get how they are going to scale.
Matthew Harris
2025-03-12 23:30:43 +0000 UTCthe font of the credit wasn't made for French accent haha. my é didn't appear at all for the first time.
Victor Rousseau Trépanier
2025-03-12 22:37:40 +0000 UTCThis video was strange because most of your videos have some sort of companion, and even the ones who don't usually have some sort of social interaction! This one was just you, though, and you didn't have anyone to bounce off of! In a very odd comparison, this reminded me of one of the Doctor Who episodes where the Doctor didn't have a companion!
Matthew Harris
2025-03-12 21:27:59 +0000 UTCNow traffic will have cars with 0 people in them! Neat
Robert Welch
2025-03-12 21:24:33 +0000 UTCmiles in transit more like miles in danger 😨
dee
2025-03-12 21:14:09 +0000 UTCGlad no one stuck a cone on the hood. Dislike. They don't obey traffic officers and have caused issues in emergency response areas. I also would love to know if they are coded for the "the trolley operator dilemma" in terms of prioritizing who would be a casualty when they have no choice.
J dubs
2025-03-12 21:11:25 +0000 UTCGod help me thats scary....cant even imagine Boston getting that....
Nick Albanese
2025-03-12 21:09:06 +0000 UTC
