Locals are expressing concern over Waymo’s recent introduction to San Antonio. (Daniel Ramirez/CC BY 2.0).
Waymo recently expanded into San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas. Here’s what to know about the driverless vehicles.
On Tuesday, Waymo announced that its driverless rideshare vehicles were coming to three Texas cities: San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas. Tekedra Mawakana, Waymo’s co-CEO, said, “Waymo is serving more riders than ever, as we are on track to serve over one million rides per week by the end of this year.” The company was drawn to these specific areas of the Lone Star State because they have their “own unique charm and transportation needs,” which Waymo can reportedly meet safely and reliably. Only certain parts of the cities will see these sleek new rideshares for the time being, including:
- Dellview area
- Alamo Heights
- King William district
- Southtown
- Terrell Hills
For those unfamiliar with Waymo, the driverless vehicles are equipped with advanced computing software, a variety of sensors, and a spinning dome on the roof. According to the product communications manager for the company, Chris Bonelli, “What that spinning dome actually is, is the lidar, or the laser-based sensing system that really gets a full 360-degree view. The computer allows for all that data input to be turned into driving directions.” These directions then guide the vehicle and its passengers from the designated pick-up spot to the selected drop-off location. Basically, Waymo works the exact same way as Uber, only Waymo doesn’t have anyone behind the steering wheel.
Sound kind of alarming? If you answered yes, then you’re not alone. The announcement has already triggered a flow of concern from locals.
Locals are concerned about the driverless vehicles
Once Waymo announced its intention to roll out new vehicles in Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston, residents took to social media to express concern. My San Antonio reported that an individual on Reddit said, “This is a bit worrisome. There are so many lane markings that are missing, overlapping or faded. Construction around here is notorious for bad lane markings.” Those issues, coupled with the state’s high speed limits, are enough to make people uneasy. Plus, numerous road projects are underway, like the I-35 Northeast Expansion, which could cause further potential issues for these human-free rideshares.
Another Reddit user said that taking a Waymo felt “uncomfortable” to them and that they wished the cities had invested in more trains and trams instead. People who have previously ridden in Waymo vehicles in Austin said they felt completely safe during their experience, so it’s likely just a case-by-case basis in terms of whether people want to use this as a viable transportation option. KSAT reported that the first rides in San Antonio began on February 24, so whether you choose to take a Waymo or not, you’ll likely see them passing by on your daily commute.
