Given that "Baghdad" by the Bay"(as the late Herb Caen called it) is the world leader in tech(can't say ground zero today), it's not surprising that robo-taxis have been approved for street use. Woe the poor pedestrians. Traffic in SF is bad without this additional hazard. One can imagine the pundits lurking about the busy intersections, waiting like buzzards for a "road kill". Two companies will have a chance to "test" their mettle: has all this investment been worth it? That is the question. Will paying passengers sit back in comfort or will they be on the edge of their seats(and properly belted)? Can fear be overcome? What will happen when the novelty wears off? How will the price increase in gasoline affect cost? Hmmmmm.
I don't think a huge per gallon price jump(more of them) can possibly help. $6./gal is here. And $7/gal. will soon follow. And $8.? That's what consumers in EU have been paying for years. Ever notice the huge numbers of Fiat 500's? They take their economy compacts seriously, unlike their American cousins who prefer pickup trucks to compacts.
Give it time. These robo cars must have an observer on board during movement in case control must be taken over. Hours of service operations have limits, and there are limits regarding weather conditions and no night time operations. Seems a bit restrictive to me. But I'm a mountain man: no urban ops for me!.
Good luck Waymo.
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