Waymo robotaxis are now giving rides on freeways in LA, SF and Phoenix

Post by jvanderbot » Wed, Nov 12, 2025, 9:14 PM UTC

SoftTalker wrote: post #251

adventured wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I imagine most traditional taxi drivers converted into Uber and Lyft drivers. Unique regulatory circumstances in places like NYC might have delayed that process some of course (eg trying to pay off a medallion). Uber and Lyft drivers are taxi drivers.

Drivers rarely owned the medallion. They leased the cab for 8-12 hours and drove it on behalf of the medallion owner.

Post by SoftTalker » Wed, Nov 12, 2025, 9:22 PM UTC

tialaramex wrote: post #288

SoftTalker wrote: post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Very few airliners depart in perfect working order. There is a "MEL" (minimum equipment list) that details which systems can be inop and still operate the flight.

Sure, however that's why there's a minimum. The problem is that lots of GA aeroplanes aren't that well maintained. People aren't on the whole suicidal , they're not going to go up in a plane they expect to kill them, but they absolutely will push their luck in privately owned planes and statistically that doesn't end well. Go see the figures for yourself, inadequate maintenance isn't first on the list for why GA cras…

Post by scoofy » Wed, Nov 12, 2025, 9:26 PM UTC

Tade0 wrote: post #161

daemonologist wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah it always wigs me out going through those super narrow "55 mph" construction zones on US highways. I'm not in a hurry and want to slow down, but if I did I'd have semis blowing past at 75 which feels even more unsafe. Honestly I think they should put up speed cameras.

In my corner of the world it was the workers who demanded section control limiting speed to 70kmph in a segment of highway that was being renovated. Authorities later said that they only went after 30% of the worst offenders, because otherwise the sheer number of tickets would be to high to process in a reasonable timespan. Once word got out that the limit was actually enforced, speeds dropped. Now we have section co…

Post by Greed » Wed, Nov 12, 2025, 9:37 PM UTC

FuckButtons wrote: post #221

mmmlinux wrote: post #28

I was in SF a few weekend ago and rode both Waymo and normal Lyft style taxi cars. the Waymo was a better experience in every single way. One of the Lyfts i was in drove on the shoulder for a while like it was a lane. The Waymos were just smooth consistent driving. No aggressive driving to get you dumped off so they can get to the next fair.

They’re a good experience, but consider, the other day I took an uber in sf with a gay taxi driver who sang along to the Tina turner he had on full blast, told me I was fabulous and almost caused a crash at a 4 way stop. 5 stars. No notes.

Post by mikestew » Wed, Nov 12, 2025, 9:46 PM UTC

SoftTalker wrote: post #304

mikestew wrote: post #300

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The rule in Indiana is that on a multilane highway you must move to the right to allow overtaking traffic to pass. That's a rule just about everywhere, but that's not what's being discussed. I'm in the right lane doing the speed limit, and OP claims that's "technically" illegal due to contradictory laws. (Where there is no real contradiction, because the Chesterton's Fence is that we don't want Farmer Jones driving h…

Right. What's (maybe) illegal (and definitely unsafe) is staying in the left lane, although driving at the posted speed limit, and impeding traffic that wants to pass.