In both cities, Waymo will take the gradual rollout approach it’s used in the past. The first step will be coordinating with local officials in the areas it intends to operate. Then its Jaguar I-Pace and Zeekr vehicles will begin scanning the area with human drivers in command. Later, the vehicles will take control under close supervision, and will only take passengers once Waymo is satisfied that its robotaxis are fully ready for Denver and Seattle.
Community response is mixed. According to Denver 7, some are genuinely interested in the technology and believe in its potential safety benefits. However, taxi and rideshare drivers are concerned about losing their jobs to automated taxis like Waymo, says KING 5, as we’ve seen in other cities like Boston. Some are also concerned about how capable these vehicles will be in Denver’s snowy winter conditions.
Photo Credit: Lyft
Photo Credit: Waymo
LYFT ROBOTAXI SERVICE IN ATLANTA
Lyft robotaxis enter the Atlanta market. Reuters reported:
Lyft and autonomous vehicle startup May Mobility will launch a pilot robotaxi service in Atlanta starting from Wednesday, the companies said, marking the partnership’s first public deployment.
Customers using the standard Lyft app will be able to hail Toyota Sienna minivans retrofitted by May Mobility on routes in and around Midtown Atlanta, with fares comparable to regular rides.
The companies will start with a small fleet, with trained in-vehicle operators on board to answer questions and take control if needed.
“We’ll start in the single digits of cars, move up to dozens, and over time to hundreds and thousands,” Jeremy Bird, Lyft’s executive vice president of driver experience told Reuters. Neither Bird nor May Mobility CEO Edwin Olson gave a timeline for expansion.
US GOV. SUES UBER OVER DISCRIMINATION
The US government sued Uber for discrimination over disabled passengers. The Guardian reported:
The US government sued Uber on Thursday, accusing the ride-sharing company of violating federal law by discriminating against passengers with disabilities.
In a complaint filed in San Francisco federal court, the US Department of Justice said Uber drivers routinely refuse to serve riders with disabilities, including people who travel with service animals or stowable wheelchairs.
The department also said Uber and its drivers illegally charge cleaning fees for service animals, and cancellation fees to riders who are denied service.
Some drivers also allegedly insult and demean people with disabilities, or refuse reasonable requests such as letting mobility-impaired passengers sit in the front seat.
