Waymo in Portland

#1

Post by xnx » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 6:08 PM UTC

Waymo in Portland
waymo.com

Re: Waymo in Portland

#2

Post by two-sandwich » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 6:41 PM UTC

This is exciting! I wonder how they determine which cities are next in line? Probably regulation and governance?

Re: Waymo in Portland

#3

Post by grubbs » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 6:41 PM UTC

two-sandwich wrote: post #2

This is exciting! I wonder how they determine which cities are next in line? Probably regulation and governance?

I think Baltimore soon. Seen them testing around the city.

Re: Waymo in Portland

#4

Post by boc » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 6:44 PM UTC

I've determined that my ultimate dream car would be something like a Rivian but with Waymo tech, so I can drive it manually when I want/need (snowstorms, off-road), but I can also let it drive me across the country at night while I camp in the back. Would absolutely change the way we move across the US, especially if you have hobbies that involve a lot of gear and equipment.

Re: Waymo in Portland

#5

Post by arnvald » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 6:44 PM UTC

I wonder if at some point we'll see a hockey stick adoption of self-driving cars. For now every new city is worth a blog post, eventually they'll allow intercity drives. Will international adoption take off? Will I be able to use it on a country road to visit my family in 10 years?

Re: Waymo in Portland

#6

Post by hdndjsbbs » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 6:44 PM UTC

grubbs wrote: post #3

two-sandwich wrote: post #2

This is exciting! I wonder how they determine which cities are next in line? Probably regulation and governance?

I think Baltimore soon. Seen them testing around the city.

Wouldn't Baltimore be the first Waymo market that actually gets snow? I don't think they've cracked driving in a real Midwest/northeast winter.

Re: Waymo in Portland

#7

Post by Barbing » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 6:45 PM UTC

Stiff competition for humans, especially drivers outside the top quartile or so. Waymo appears to its passengers to drive much more competently than certainly any sub-average rideshare driver.

Although I like jobs for humans, I hope these aren’t all just set on fire because there is promise in reducing fatalities. Want to find a way for offline vehicles that can go 65MPH to remain legal though. Without Flock every block either unless we (in USA) forget what the whole USA thing’s about.

Edit: @Waymo would LOVE to see an industry-leading privacy pledge so good the EFF slaps their logo on it (even caveated), also your engineers are amazing

Re: Waymo in Portland

#8

Post by quux » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 6:46 PM UTC

boc wrote: post #4

I've determined that my ultimate dream car would be something like a Rivian but with Waymo tech, so I can drive it manually when I want/need (snowstorms, off-road), but I can also let it drive me across the country at night while I camp in the back. Would absolutely change the way we move across the US, especially if you have hobbies that involve a lot of gear and equipment.

That's kind of a beautiful vision

Re: Waymo in Portland

#9

Post by tomwheeler » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 6:46 PM UTC

hdndjsbbs wrote: post #6

grubbs wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think Baltimore soon. Seen them testing around the city.

Wouldn't Baltimore be the first Waymo market that actually gets snow? I don't think they've cracked driving in a real Midwest/northeast winter.

> Wouldn't Baltimore be the first Waymo market that actually gets snow?

No, we have them in St. Louis and it snows a few times per year here.

Re: Waymo in Portland

#10

Post by davidw » Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 6:47 PM UTC

hdndjsbbs wrote: post #6

grubbs wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think Baltimore soon. Seen them testing around the city.

Wouldn't Baltimore be the first Waymo market that actually gets snow? I don't think they've cracked driving in a real Midwest/northeast winter.

Portland gets very occasional snow. But they'll probably just shut the Waymos down along with everything else that shuts when there's snow and ice.