Robotaxis Are No Friend of Public Transportation
AV companies like Waymo are promoting the idea that driverless technology can complement transit service. Recent ride-hailing history suggests otherwise.
A Waymo autonomous taxi in San Francisco in 2023.
Photographer: David Paul Morris/BloombergLast week, Waymo, the Alphabet Inc.-owned robotaxi company that offers self-driving rides in parts of San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles, announced a new initiative that it described as “an important step toward making clean transportation more accessible.”
From now until Nov. 15, customers who use Waymo to connect with one of eight transit stops in the San Francisco Bay Area will receive a $3 credit toward a future Waymo trip. According to the company, the promotion is part of its support for “more walkable, bikeable, and transit-rich communities.”