Waymo has been offering driverless ride-hailing services in San Francisco for approximately six months, and new data sheds light on the most popular destinations for riders using the service.
According to a report from The San Francisco Chronicle, Waymo riders frequently travel to areas such as Hayes Valley, Mission Bay, South of Market, and the Mission District. The company has transported over 530,000 passengers around the city between September and February, with many passengers heading to job centers like the Financial District, event venues like the Chase Center, and other locations known for challenging parking situations.
Aman Nalavade, Waymo group product manager, highlighted the convenience of using the service in areas with limited parking availability, stating, “Those areas definitely resonate with low parking availability and therefore provide a better or an easier way to get around the city versus driving your own cars.”
Nalavade noted that many passengers are “power riders,” using the service almost daily for their work commute, with Friday and Saturday nights being popular for rides. Additionally, some passengers prefer the “private environment” of Waymo’s robotaxis for trips to and from medical appointments.
While the data indicates that over 12,000 individual rides ended in the Mission Bay census tract, Waymo has operated driverless rides in every census tract in the city. However, fewer rides were reported to start or end in areas like Bayview, Excelsior, Ingleside, and around the Outer Sunset district.
Waymo recently received approval to expand its operations in California, including launching services in Los Angeles and expanding into the San Francisco Peninsula. Despite this, public acceptance of robotaxi operations remains mixed, particularly after an incident involving a driverless vehicle from General Motors’ Cruise unit in October.
Waymo’s expansion efforts could also face legal challenges, as a proposed bill aims to give communities more control over where robotaxis can operate. The company’s expansions have been met with opposition from various entities, including the city of South San Francisco, San Mateo County, and transportation authorities in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Both Waymo and Cruise received initial approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in August to conduct commercial rides 24 hours a day with driverless vehicles. However, Cruise’s license was suspended by the state following the accident in October.
