UPDATE: Waymo has officially begun autonomous test drives in Philadelphia, marking a significant step toward fully driverless ride-hailing services. While residents can’t yet hail a Waymo ride, the vehicles are now navigating city streets, drawing a mix of excitement and skepticism from onlookers.
As of Friday, trained human operators are still behind the wheel, but Waymo confirms that fully autonomous operations are on the horizon. The distinctive Waymo vehicles were spotted in Center City, sparking reactions ranging from curiosity to concern among Philadelphia residents.
Brendan Divilly, a passenger from New York City who has ridden in Waymo vehicles before, expressed his mixed feelings: “It’s definitely a unique experience that might not be for all.” He described his first ride as “definitely nervous” and raised concerns about how the technology would handle the challenges of Philadelphia traffic.
Local attorney Paul Kahn echoed these concerns, stating, “It’s a bad driving city, it’s just the way it is.” He reminisced about his childhood fascination with flying cars from “The Jetsons,” but noted, “this isn’t that much fun.” Others, like Ryan Berry from Chester, worry about safety, commenting, “I can picture a flat Waymo, that’s for sure!”
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) emphasized that these test drives are a crucial step toward the future of transportation in the state, stating, “We will continue working with Waymo as they move toward launching public service.” However, no timeline for public availability has been announced yet.
Waymo is expanding its operations across the East Coast, already providing services in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. Despite the excitement, the company faces scrutiny due to previous incidents, including one where a Waymo vehicle blocked traffic outside an NFL stadium in Atlanta and another that drove through an active police standoff in Los Angeles.
Residents have expressed skepticism about how the technology will adapt to Philadelphia’s notorious traffic. Divilly added, “I’ve seen I-95 during rush hour. I don’t think it’s gonna go over well, especially during Eagles playoff games.” Local voices like Grace Hannigan questioned the necessity of autonomous vehicles, saying, “We have people that can drive cars, why don’t we just do that?”
While Waymo continues its autonomous testing, the public will have to wait for the official launch of the ride-hailing service. “Once we are fully autonomous, we’ll let the public know when they can ride,” a company spokesperson stated.
For now, residents can expect to see Waymo’s distinctive vehicles navigating the streets of Philadelphia but should remain cautious about the technology’s readiness to handle urban challenges. As the situation develops, all eyes are on Waymo’s next steps in this groundbreaking initiative.
