Tourists pay for the AV experience, Waymo lands at SFO and Lyft testing tipping riders. LegalRideshare breaks it down.
TOURISTS PAY HUNRDREDS FOR WAYMO
Tourists are using Waymo as it’s own adventure. SF Chronicle reported:
From February to August, Mihaly booked 10 Waymo tours in which clients would ride the autonomous vehicles to such prominent landmarks as Alamo Square, Twin Peaks and the Golden Gate Bridge.
At $149 for a three-hour, three-ride “experience,” these jaunts became so popular that Mihaly began offering them in Los Angeles, Waymo’s other flagship market in California. She had four Waymo tours on the calendar as of Aug. 18, the day the self-driving car juggernaut sent a cease-and-desist letter. Mihaly had, it turned out, violated the company’s terms and conditions for brand display.
Clearly, Waymo’s bedrock consumers are the regular commuters who might otherwise hail rides with Uber or Lyft. But some experts say the company would be wise to divert some of its focus to tourists, who might pay more money for the thrill of an autonomous ride.
WAYMO AT SFO
Waymo lands at SFO. SF.gov explains:
Mayor Daniel Lurie today announced that the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has signed a Testing and Operations Pilot Permit for autonomous vehicles with Waymo, allowing the company to begin operating at the airport. Operations will be rolled out in three phases, including testing the vehicles with a human driver, testing the vehicles without a human driver with Waymo and airport employees, and eventually beginning commercial operations.
The permit allows Waymo to access portions of the airport to test and pilot autonomous vehicle operations on designated roads and property and will be rolled out in three phases. Phases include:
Phase 1: Testing autonomous vehicles in autonomous mode with a trained specialist behind the wheel
Phase 2: Testing passenger service in fully autonomous mode with Waymo employees and designated airport staff as passengers
Phase 3: Piloting commercial operations of paid-for-hire autonomous services for Waymo customers
The pilot permit follows a comprehensive review process, including safety protocols and data reporting requirements. Under the terms of the agreement, Waymo will operate within strict safety and reporting conditions to ensure dependable service for trips to and from SFO.
LYFT TO TELL DRIVERS IF RIDER TIPS
Lyft is letting drivers know if their rider tips. Bloomberg reported:
Lyft Inc. is testing a feature that will tell drivers how often a rider tips and how punctual they are, providing additional information drivers can use when deciding which trips are worth their time.
Lyft drivers typically decide whether to accept a passenger based on information such as what the trip pays, the time and distance to the pick-up and drop-off points, and the rider’s rating.
The company is now also showing “rider tipped on X% of rides” and “rider is usually ready at pickup,” according to a screenshot shared by a Boston-based driver on X. Lyft is testing the feature with a “limited number” of drivers, a spokesperson said in response to a Bloomberg News inquiry, and said the company will gather data and community feedback before deciding on a broader roll-out.
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