What it's like to ride a Waymo in Denver

• The driverless car was smooth, comfortable and surprisingly decisive. It was cautious, but not to a fault.

Zoom in: What impressed me most was how naturally it handled the little judgment calls drivers make constantly.

• It crept forward at a stop sign for a better view of traffic and slowed around cyclists, pedestrians and construction.
• When another car left my ride stranded in an intersection as the light turned red, the Waymo checked behind itself and backed up behind the line.

Friction point: Humans complicated the trip.

• At one point, the Waymo stopped for a woman who appeared ready to cross the street, even though she wasn't at a crosswalk. Cars traveling the opposite direction subsequently stopped, too.
• She waved my Waymo to go. It refused. She waved again. Still nothing.
• Eventually, she threw her hands up in a very clear "WTF?" and crossed.

How it works: Hailing a Waymo feels a lot like ordering an Uber or Lyft.

• Riders can control the temperature and music, share their trip details and ask the car to adjust an awkward drop-off spot.
• Denver's electric Ojai vehicles are also winterized with heated sensors and other technology designed for snow and ice.

My thought bubble: One short, company-arranged demo isn't enough to judge how Waymo performs day after day.

• But based on my first spin? I'd ride again.

Go deeper: Poll: Denverites aren't ready to let Waymo take the wheel