UPDATE: Waymo has officially started its autonomous test drives in Philadelphia, marking a significant step towards its fully driverless ride-hailing service. While residents can’t yet hail a ride, the presence of these autonomous vehicles on city streets is already stirring strong reactions.
As of October 20, 2023, trained human specialists are still behind the wheel during these tests. However, Waymo’s plans for a public launch are clear, with a commitment to expand operations in the city. The first sightings occurred Friday in Center City, where curious onlookers expressed a mix of intrigue and skepticism about the technology.
Brendan Divilly, a visitor from New York City who has previously experienced Waymo in San Francisco, voiced his concerns. “It’s very dystopian,” he said. “Definitely an experience, but I think a lot of people will be skeptical of them.” Divilly admitted feeling “nervous” during his ride, emphasizing the reliance on an app for navigation.
Others questioned the vehicle’s ability to handle Philadelphia‘s notoriously challenging traffic. “It’s a bad driving city,” noted attorney Paul Kahn. “People are impatient, and I don’t think Philadelphia drivers will handle this well.”
The skepticism is echoed by residents like Ryan Berry from Chester, who fears for safety due to the reliance on artificial intelligence. “I can picture a flat Waymo, that’s for sure!” he remarked, adding, “Of course, it’s always funky with data and coding.”
In response to these concerns, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) stated that this testing phase is crucial for advancing future transportation in the state. “This represents the first step toward driverless operations in Pennsylvania,” the agency confirmed, promising to collaborate closely with Waymo as it works towards a public service launch.
Waymo’s expansion strategy includes other East Coast cities like Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C.. However, the company has faced scrutiny due to several high-profile incidents involving its vehicles, including a passenger being stuck in a car blocking traffic outside an NFL stadium in Atlanta and a vehicle navigating through an active police standoff in Los Angeles.
As excitement builds, Waymo has yet to announce a timeline for when the public can officially hail a ride. “Riders won’t be able to hail a Waymo just yet,” a spokesperson affirmed. “Once we are fully autonomous, we’ll let the public know when they can ride.”
Residents are encouraged to keep an eye out for these distinctive vehicles as they navigate Center City. The question remains: Will Philadelphia embrace this new era of transportation, or will skepticism prevail as the rollout continues?
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as Waymo moves closer to launching its fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Philadelphia.
