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California Approves Waymo Expansion to Los Angeles and SF Peninsula [pdf]

cpuc.ca.gov

301–310 of 424 posts

Re: California Approves Waymo Expansion to Los Angeles and SF Peninsula [pdf]

#301

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I agree that there's still endless work to do, some companies are probably behaving in a way that is dangerous, they aren't half as good as you want them to be, it's not clear whether they are good for society or financially viable etc. etc. but it just seems weird that so few people are willing to be like, "fair play, they basically pulled it off, round of applause", even just for a second. They're victim of the s…

> or in non sunny California conditions at all It does at least rain in San Francisco, and I've taken Waymo in the rain. It did more than fine. Plus, you know, night time.

Having lived in SF and elsewhere, even heavy SF rain is nothing compared to further up the West coast. I remember parts of the infra in SF failing when it rained more than one inch.

Re: California Approves Waymo Expansion to Los Angeles and SF Peninsula [pdf]

#302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know about bringing down costs. The amount of money that's been invested in this wants to get paid back, so they're gonna be charging as money they can for this to be worth it.

> amount of money that's been invested in this wants to get paid back, so they're gonna be charging as money they can As they should be. They’re currently competing with Uber and Lyft, and charging a novelty/quality premium. There will be a halcyon period as they scale and print money, but others will notice and start fighting that monopoly.

If I’ve learnt anything over the last 10 years it’s that self driving is hard and Google has a huge moat with how good Waymo already is.

Re: California Approves Waymo Expansion to Los Angeles and SF Peninsula [pdf]

#304

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In SF, up-front prices have been comparable to Uber’s, except that you don’t have to pay tip, which automatically makes it 15–20% cheaper. The few times I’ve tried it, the service has been good and its driving was safe. The only downside is that there seems to sometimes be longer wait times.

In europe, you don't pay tips to uber drivers. Surely, if the tip is compulsory, it should be called a service fee

Tipping sucks but people rely on it and I have enough money to tip or I don’t use the service. https://www.npr.org/2021/03/22/980047710/the-land-of-the-fee

Re: California Approves Waymo Expansion to Los Angeles and SF Peninsula [pdf]

#305

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For now, Waymo in SF costs significantly higher than Uber. I just checked and was quoted double - $25 to go from the outer richmond to Japantown.

It is still a fun novelty mode of ride with limited supply and is priced accordingly and is not a mass transport option yet. Once the supply of cars rises the prices will fall to establish a new equilibrium hopefully much lower than Uber.

There are tons of waymos, pretty much everywhere you look. I think it's beyond the novelty stage now.

Re: California Approves Waymo Expansion to Los Angeles and SF Peninsula [pdf]

#306

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mass transit is great when it's available, which means in places of high density, which is why you list Asia and Europe. It's right there in the name. I live in Europe in a village of about 1500 people are there is no usable public transport (2 buses a day). Relative to total area, mass transit is almost nowhere. That's also true for for total road kilometers. I agree with your last sentence, but for those who live o…

>I live in Europe in a village of about 1500 people are there is no usable public transport (2 buses a day). and how would waymo fix this? Waymo is still a private business and needs to weigh the costs of deploying to a smaller town vs. simply not supporting that range. It's the same issue as government.

Automated vehicles will enable smaller buses that drive themselves and make serving these places profitable to service. Automated taxi services like Waymo also ultimately be cheaper too.

Re: California Approves Waymo Expansion to Los Angeles and SF Peninsula [pdf]

#307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For now, Waymo in SF costs significantly higher than Uber. I just checked and was quoted double - $25 to go from the outer richmond to Japantown.

Hmm, in my (limited) experience, I've seen Waymo being within +/- $1-2 of Uber.

This is what I'm more accustomed too, in this particular instance though there was a 25 minute wait.

I'm guessing the rain right now might be increasing demand for rides.

Re: California Approves Waymo Expansion to Los Angeles and SF Peninsula [pdf]

#308
post #263
post #117

I love Waymo and use it all the time. One aspect I'd still like to see them figure out: As a bike commuter, I share the road with Waymo often. When cycling, you're always checking the eyes of other drivers to confirm if they see you. I've had a couple incidents where I was a little thrown/unnerved because I couldn't confirm if a Waymo was registering me. It ultimately behaved fine, but I had to put my guard way up be…

Ditto as a motorcyclist. Making eye contact with drivers makes riding a lot easier. You know they see you.

When I'm on a motorcycle, I assume they are never seeing me - but it's still useful to see them, and I can often tell what they are about to do before they've started doing it. I have not yet had the chance to share the road with a robot, but I wonder whether that feeling for traffic will still work.

Re: California Approves Waymo Expansion to Los Angeles and SF Peninsula [pdf]

#309
post #117

I love Waymo and use it all the time. One aspect I'd still like to see them figure out: As a bike commuter, I share the road with Waymo often. When cycling, you're always checking the eyes of other drivers to confirm if they see you. I've had a couple incidents where I was a little thrown/unnerved because I couldn't confirm if a Waymo was registering me. It ultimately behaved fine, but I had to put my guard way up be…

As a biker, I feel MICH safer around self driving cars because I know they are paying attention. I don’t need to check if they see me. They do.

That's the exact opposite assumption I'd make. As a biker, a pedestrian, or a driver.

Re: California Approves Waymo Expansion to Los Angeles and SF Peninsula [pdf]

#310
post #159

No thanks — driving in LA is dangerous enough.

Thanks to Waymo, it will beocome a little bite safer.

Having spent years driving there and the complexity/lackadaisical traffic patterns and enforcement — I quite doubt it. I'd expect them to have their own Cruise moment.
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