My First Waymo Ride in San Francisco: A Glimpse into the Future of Transportation!
I just took my first fully driverless Waymo ride through the streets of San Francisco—an incredible experience I had to share! (Check out the photos for proof.)
I began by downloading the app—an effortless process with an intuitive, polished design. From there, I hailed the driverless vehicle directly through the app and felt that thrilling blend of nervous anticipation and awe. Would it actually work? Would I make it safely? Could a driverless car really handle the streets of San Francisco better than a human? The answer: a resounding YES.
The Experience
As the sleek white vehicle pulled up (albeit with a slight location hiccup—more on that in a moment), I couldn't help but feel like I was stepping into the future. Opening the door revealed an immaculate interior designed purely for passenger comfort—no driver's seat necessary! The vehicle moved with confident precision through San Francisco's winding streets. The navigation system politely announced turns and provided helpful updates throughout the journey. What struck me most was how natural it all felt after just a few minutes—the vehicle's movements were smooth and predictable—unlike most UBER drivers!
Safety First
Waymo’s AI consistently prioritized safety above all else. Twice during our journey, the vehicle slowed down for double-parked cars. Though slightly more cautious than a typical human driver (most Uber drivers would’ve swerved around the hazard), this deliberate approach felt reassuring, not frustrating. The vehicle's sensors were constantly monitoring everything around us, creating an invisible safety bubble that gave me complete peace of mind.
Room for Improvement
No new technology is perfect, and to be completely transparent, there were a couple of minor hiccups. The estimated arrival time wasn't quite on target, and the pickup location wasn't ideal—it was positioned on the opposite side of the street and further from my requested location, despite this being a popular Waymo pickup spot. A small inconvenience in an otherwise flawless experience.
The Verdict
Will I ride with Waymo again? Absolutely! This wasn't just a ride—it was a glimpse into our collective future. The technology is impressive, the experience is delightful, and the implications for transportation are profound.
There's something magical about cruising through a major city without a human behind the wheel. It transforms how you think about transportation and technology's role in our daily lives. If you're in San Francisco and haven't tried it yet, I highly recommend booking your first Waymo ride—prepare to be amazed!
Have you tried autonomous vehicle services in San Francisco, Pheonix or another city? I'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments section below!
I tried to use Waymo last weekend in Scottsdale. Most of the times I summoned a ride the app said that demand was very high and I wouldn't get a ride for at least half an hour. Went with Lyft instead. the one time I got a ride -- after a wedding reception -- the car rolled up, but the doors wouldn't open. Very frustrating. The company refunded me my fee.
Doug - I tried a Waymo for the first time recently too - about six weeks ago - after seeing multiple drop-offs at the hotel in Marina del Rey where we were staying. Waymo operates in about 90 square miles of LA. Particularly notable were how the AI handled two situations. (1) Initially stopping behind a car in our travel lane that was backing up to parallel park. Then proceeding and taking a very small excursion into the next lane to get around the other car once it was mostly in the parking space. The Waymo AI behaved just like a human driver would - doing the little jog maneuver to save a little time. And (2) Instead of dropping us at the curb by the restaurant that was our destination, it entered the small restaurant parking lot, dropped us at the valet station, waited until all of the cars in front of it had been parked by the valets, then exited out the back of the parking lot. All in all, it was a fantastic experience and one I'd gladly repeat.