My View:
I never was in San Francisco when autonomous WAYMO started its program of self-driving SUV automobiles. It was in beta testing and you could only join in the Waymo App if you had gotten an invite from Waymo use access. I do use taxis for our round trip from our home to the airport when we travel. I do like to support the local taxi companies. They do allow me to schedule a pickup time which helps.
I was a Uber/Lyft user when traveling to San Francisco. Was easy and quick that flagging down a taxi. For better or worse depending on the side of life you live. Taxi, Uber/Lyft, or Waymo are an expence over public transportation. All depending on your budget will dictate what transport your need to take.
I was an Uber/Lyft user when traveling to San Francisco. It was easier and quicker than flagging down a taxi. For better or worse, depending on your side of life, taxis, Uber/Lyft, or Waymo are an expense over public transportation. Your budget will dictate what transportation you need to take.
We took BART from the airport to the 16th Street stop and walked several blocks to our hotel. BART to and from the airport has always been our travel mode while we lived in San Francisco, and now we are visitors again. When traveling to most major cities, hotels charge for overnight parking. This can run up your travel budget of $25-$100 or more daily for car parking.
This leave will allow us to travel to several local destinations for our 4-day visit to San Francisco. In some places, we could take public street trolleys. Most convenient for us. At other locations, we needed to time arrival for dinner plans. So WAYMO was our first choice as trying something new to us.
The first trip by WAYMO was across town to a restaurant where we wanted to sample some of their food. After trying a bagel, we left for our hotel. A second WAYMO ride back. This ride was the same as the first. I was very impressed with driving the vehicle in city traffic. I compared it to my Telsa self-driving mode (current release). Tesla uses much less technology to self-drive with its cameras only.
The WAYMO uses three technologies to see around the vehicle:
- Lidar: Light Detection and Ranging sensors that send laser pulses in all directions to detect objects up to 300 meters away
- Cameras: Provide a 360-degree view with overlapping fields of view, high dynamic range, and thermal stability
- Radar: Provides a broader field of view with higher resolution than cameras and can see and measure an object’s speed and direction
WAYMO a higher price per ride than UBER. They also seem to have surge pricing options like UBER. The cars are late model Jaguar SUVs. Each car can take 3 adults, 2 in back and one in the passenger side front seat. They are clean and you can control the music. They have a button if you need to contact a support person in real time.
10 Reasons to Take a Waymo Over a Taxi
- No Tipping Required
Unlike traditional taxis, Waymo doesn’t require tips, making it a predictable and potentially more affordable option. - Autonomous Driving
Waymo uses advanced self-driving technology, which means no driver. This can be a plus if you value privacy or simply want to experience the future of transportation. - More Predictable Routes
Waymo follows optimized, pre-programmed routes, potentially avoiding detours or inefficient routes that human taxi drivers might take. - Consistent Pricing
Waymo’s pricing is transparent and not subject to surge pricing or driver manipulation, ensuring a consistent fare each time. - Tech-Savvy Option
Waymo offers a more tech-forward experience, allowing you to hail rides via an app without human interaction, ideal for tech-savvy riders. - Cleaner Environment
Since Waymo cars are often newer and maintained by the company, you’re more likely to get a clean, well-maintained vehicle compared to older, possibly worn-out taxis. - Fewer Human Errors
Autonomous vehicles are programmed to follow traffic rules and make safe decisions, potentially reducing the risk of accidents compared to taxis driven by humans. - Detailed Trip Monitoring
You can monitor your trip in real-time through the app, giving you peace of mind and control over your route, without having to worry about a driver’s decisions. - Environmentally Friendly
Many Waymo vehicles are electric or hybrid, which could contribute to reducing your carbon footprint compared to gas-powered taxis. - No Driver-Related Discomfort
If you’ve ever experienced awkward small talk, loud music, or an uncomfortable atmosphere in a taxi, Waymo eliminates this with its driverless service.
10 Reasons Why You Should Take a Waymo
- Future of Travel
Be part of the cutting-edge technology movement by using a self-driving car. Experience what could be the future of transportation. - Safety Features
Waymo vehicles are equipped with multiple sensors and cameras that constantly monitor the environment, improving safety beyond the human eye’s capability. - On-Demand Convenience
Waymo rides can be booked instantly through an app, providing quick and easy transportation at your fingertips. - No Human Bias
With Waymo, there’s no chance of driver-related bias based on race, gender, or location, ensuring fair and equal treatment for all passengers. - Smooth Experience
Waymo cars are programmed for smooth driving, avoiding erratic lane changes or sudden braking that might be common with taxi drivers. - Quiet Rides
Since there’s no driver, the ride is completely quiet unless you choose to listen to your own music or podcast, making for a peaceful journey. - Personalized Settings
Waymo allows for personalized rider preferences, like setting your preferred temperature or music choice through the app before the ride even begins. - Fixed Fares
No more surprises at the end of your trip. Waymo provides fixed rates, so you’ll know exactly what you’re paying ahead of time. - Environmentally Responsible
Many of Waymo’s fleet are electric vehicles, which are better for the environment compared to traditional gas-powered taxis. - Hands-Free Freedom
With no driver and no need for interaction, Waymo gives you a hands-free, hassle-free ride, letting you focus on your phone, book, or just relax.
Conclusion:
After taking six round-trip rides around inner San Francisco, I learned that WAYMO does not currently run outside San Francisco city limits. Rumor has it that they will be extended to highway travel (in the future). The WAYMO vehicles may look a little bulky, with tech cameras and radar on each corner of the car body. I felt very safe in the car while driving a WAYMO car. It never felt like the car did anything that would be questionable as a human driver.
If I need to pick, my vote is for WAYMO cars. I know many will fault me for not supporting human-driven cars. I feel this way only because the computer and cameras will not be distracted while driving. Human drivers can get into accidents. WAYMO has been in some accidents early in its rollout. But this is the wave of the future unless some hackers figure out a way to control any self-driving vehicle in the future.
If you watch Julie Robert’s Netflix Movie Leave the World Behind, You will understand my self-driving car hacker phishing scams, comments (not a spoiler from me)
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