We just returned from a trip to San Francisco and I have to say, Waymo cars are quite abundant in the city. I’d never heard about this new sensation of driverless cars, and today I’ll share with you how you can ride around town in these self driving cars which act as a competitor to Uber and other rideshare services.
Are self driving cars the future of transportation? I have to say that I was highly impressed by these self driving vehicles and will be looking forward to it’s expansion when it makes it to Miami. (Our rideshare drivers are NOT the best down here. If you’ve ever been to South Florida, you know that people are awful drivers.)
History of Waymo Cars
Also referred to as the Google self driving car, Waymo is a pioneer in autonomous driving technology, originating from Google’s ambitious self-driving car project. Over the years, it has evolved into a leading company in the development and deployment of fully autonomous vehicles. Here’s a look at Waymo’s journey:
2009: Google’s Self-Driving Car Project Begins
Waymo’s origins trace back to 2009 when Google launched its self-driving car project under its X lab, a division dedicated to experimental and innovative technologies. The project was led by Sebastian Thrun, a co-inventor of Google Street View and a Stanford AI researcher.
2012-2015: Testing and Early Development
During these years, Google’s autonomous vehicles, including modified Toyota Prius and Lexus SUVs, logged thousands of miles on public roads. By 2014, the company introduced its first fully autonomous prototype, the Firefly, a small two-seater car without a steering wheel or pedals, designed purely for self-driving.
2016: Waymo Becomes an Independent Company
In December 2016, Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., spun off the self-driving car project into a separate entity named Waymo, short for “a new way forward in mobility.” The company’s goal was to develop self-driving technology that could be commercialized.
2017: First Real-World Ride-Hailing Service
Waymo began testing its autonomous ride-hailing service in Phoenix, Arizona, using modified Chrysler Pacifica minivans. By November 2017, Waymo removed human safety drivers from its test vehicles, making it the first company to publicly operate fully autonomous cars on city streets.
2018: Launch of Waymo One
In December 2018, Waymo officially launched Waymo One, a commercial self-driving taxi service in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Initially, these rides included safety drivers, but fully driverless rides soon followed.
2020: Fully Driverless Service Expansion
Waymo expanded its driverless ride-hailing service, allowing the public to book rides in fully autonomous vehicles. This marked a major milestone in the commercialization of self-driving technology.
2021-Present: Growth and Expansion
Waymo has continued to expand into new markets, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, while testing its technology in various urban environments. The company has also introduced Waymo Via, a self-driving trucking and delivery division, signaling its interest in autonomous freight transport.
>> I posted this video of us in the Waymo in San Francisco on our YouTube channel.
How to Request a Waymo Driver
There techically isn’t a Waymo driver since these are entirely self driving cars. In fact, it’s quite odd seeing the driver’s seat empty with nobody managing the steering wheel!
To book Waymo cars, you use the Waymo app. You can download their app here.
Just like an Uber or a Lyft, your Waymo cars account will show you an estimated time of arrival as well as it’s location.
Waymo Cars Areas of Service
Waymo San Francisco was my only experience in using these self driving cars. However, according to their website, you can book Waymo cars in Phoenix, San Diego, and Los Angeles. There are plans to expand to Miami, Austin, and Atlanta.
Pro’s and Con’s of Waymo Cars
If I’m being honest, I like these cars much more than having an actual human driver. I find that human error, especially down here in South Florida, is a huge worry to riders. So if you are in California, consider yourself lucky!
As a pro, these cars a clean and very classy. We rode in a Jaguar i pace and found it to be a very comfortable experience with a great interior. They have a fleet of 300 Waymo cars in San Francisco and you will find them all over the city.
The technology is something that deserves an award. Armed with sensors on just about every corner of the vehicle, the sensors look out for pedestrians, traffic cones, random objects, and construction zones by using software and cameras. The self driving hardware Waymo incorporates had to cost millions in research and development.
What I didn’t like about Waymo cars is that they don’t think like a human driver. We had a car stop in front of us and put on it’s hazard lights while at a stop sign in San Francisco.
As we approached the vehicle, I noticed the driver had passengers exit to retrieve something from a convenience store. Our Waymo car just sat there while the vehicles behind us went around the left side and passed this car.
We sat in idle and it felt like a glitch. Any experienced driver would have simply navigated past the vehicle.
Like any technology, there could be something a person could outsmart. It’s situations like this that annoyed me, but it did only happen that one time, but I could see it being something that would be very annoying if it continued to happen on a single trip.
Final Words
Waymo launched a product that has a lot of people talking. I didn’t expect to download the Waymo app while on vacation and try a new sort of travel experience, but I have to say, I’m a fan! Despite the glitch in passing a parked car, I found this the best way to get around San Francisco and I am really looking forward to it coming to Miami.
I’d love to hear from people in the comments section about their experiences with Waymo. What do you like and dislike?
About Peter C.
Peter is a digital nomad who largely writes from Asia, Europe, and South America. Always following the "vibe," he sets up shop in hostels and AirBNB's and continues to entertain us with wild stories from life abroad. Ask him anything in our community forum. Make sure to download the AllWorld Travel Hacks FREE ebook.
