Starting next year, we may see Waymo driverless robotaxis operating in downtown San Diego.
“Me and my husband are out tonight and we’re probably going to use a rideshare to go home,” Cari Heisner-Koch said.
San Diegans and tourists could soon get around town using driverless cars on the street.
A Waymo spokesperson told NBC 7 they’re planning to roll out their autonomous all-electric vehicle in San Diego.
To operate it users can call Waymo with the app.
Right now, the company is working to get a permit to operate in town, and if everything goes as planned the cars could roll out some time next year.
The decision to bring driverless cars to neighborhoods like downtown is causing concern among San Diego City Councilmember Sean-Elo Rivera.
He worries those Robo-Taxis could price rideshare drivers out of their jobs.
“I wanted to figure out what we can do to protect workers, to protect the families who depend on that work , but also to make sure we have a conversation about local say in technologies like this that can really upend a community,” Sean Elo-Rivera said earlier this week.
This week the Metropolitan Transit System’s Taxi Advisory Committee came out against Waymo.
They voted on several recommendations for their board of directors, including urging governor Gavin Newsom to give cities control over whether autonomous cars can operate there, and allow community members to vote on their use.
Vicky Gomez has seen Waymo in another city.
She and others say they’re not sure how to feel about their arrival.
“Oh crap, nobody is driving that car,” Gomez said.
But some said they’re not quite sure how to feel about Waymo coming to San Diego.
“I have seen the driverless pizza cars, have you seen those? I haven’t seen that, but I have seen the robots deliver your food,” Evelyn Gribble said.
“Okay, we’re in the future now and that’s weird and I’m not sure I’m ready for it,” Tracy McGarvey said.
“Just not quite trustworthy yet, until there’s a record out there about them,” Cari Heisner-Koch said.
“I think it’s fine. I have a Tesla and I use autopilot all the time soI don’t think there’s a difference,” Scott Cook said.
The company quoted Mayor Gloria in a statement it released Monday saying in part, “By welcoming innovative and promising technologies like Waymo’s autonomous vehicle service, we’re exploring how to make transportation more accessible, more sustainable, and more connected to everyone in our community.”
After rolling out the service in Downtown, the company plans to expand it to Pacific Beach, Temecula Heights, Mission Hills, Liberty Station, Montecito Point, and Grant Hill.
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