What San Francisco readers really think about Waymo
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Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
Self-driving cars have become as much a part of San Francisco's streetscape as cable cars and fog, but the rise of Waymo has brought a mix of optimism, skepticism and at times outright bewilderment.
- Robotaxi backers cite sharply lower pedestrian injury rates, but concerns over driving performance, data privacy and jobs continue to drive resistance.
We invited readers to weigh in with their Waymo stories — here's what you shared.
We'll start off strong with a hilarious observation from Remington P., who aptly noted a sight many of us have seen: Waymos freezing or overreacting to minor obstacles, creating confusion and traffic jams.
- "My favorite was a few months ago while walking my dog seeing a plastic bag flying in the wind (cue the Ricky in American Beauty comparisons). Waymo could not drive through it or was 'taken aback by its beauty' and created a jam for a whole light cycle with cars honking on every corner."
John S. pushed back on how Waymo incidents are portrayed, arguing isolated accounts lack context.
- "Reporting anecdotal reports of issues without information on the rate of the issues per ride or mile versus human drivers (or more appropriately, ride-hailing service drivers), removes critical context."
At the same time, he acknowledged the cars have made strange decisions or taken inefficient routes: "Why do they often drop to 10 mph on Market Street between Castro and 15th for no apparent reason?"
- "Why do they sometimes bypass 17th Street when your route from the east side takes you over Clarendon and instead takes Market/Portola all the way around Twin Peaks, going over a mile out of the way?"
- Still he remains a fan: "Generally, I'm amazed by how well Waymo cars manage different situations."
Todd L. agrees and recently took his first ride, which went "much better than expected."
- "I felt more comfortable in Waymo with all the sensing tech versus my Full Self-Driving Tesla that only has cameras. No drama and no surprises on my first ride, I would definitely use Waymo again."
Sarah G.S. also expected a nerve-wracking highway ride when taking a robotaxi to Daly City, but instead felt unexpectedly calm and in control.
- "I was ready to have a panic attack but it did great! I was so surprised but I really felt safe in it... Using Waymo may be a way for me to unlock some broader Bay Area travel."
Stephen R. isn't so sure the cars are as safe as they're purported to be, recounting an experience where he narrowly avoided being hit while biking to Golden Gate Park.
- "Had I not been so alert, a Waymo would have taken me out."
💠My thought bubble: Riding a Waymo can feel like a luxurious experience if you're not in a rush to get anywhere. I love the ease and convenience, but am regularly confused by the exorbitant costs — I've seen fares hit $30 for a 15-minute trip that might cost half as much on Lyft or Uber.
The bottom line: The future of driving is already here — it just occasionally stops to admire a floating plastic bag.