We’ve broached the idea of getting where you need to go autonomously in the past – usually getting a firm “Hell No!” from committed gear jammers and others wary of the technology behind driverless motoring.
But Mountain View-based Waymo appears in it to win the autonomous transportation game, recently applying for and getting Department of Motor Vehicles approval for an expansion of fleet availability across a large swath of the state – including right here in the 24/680.
Figuring older folks may be the most resistant to riding the robot highway we include a short video of two older guys shanghaied into a Waymo Ride by a mischievous relative – who filmed their hilarious reaction to the experience.
We thought it was both illuminating and hilarious, let us know what you think.
Waymo already operates autonomous vehicles for customers near Los Angeles, San Francisco, through the Peninsula, and all the way to San Jose. But the DMV recently green-lighted expansion of the company’s testing and deployment area, adding specific cities north past Santa Rosa and east to Sacramento, including cities in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Solano, Yolo, and Sacramento County.
The newly added areas have been designated operational design domains (ODDs) with the company’s Jaguar I-Pace and Zeekr RT vehicle models approved for testing within those boundaries. California Public Utilities Commission approval is required before Waymo can start charging riders and collecting fares for these expanded areas of operation.
Imagine what they have seen in their lives and now to see this. Pretty amazing. And I think you’re looking at your most appreciative demographic there too.
This is priceless! ‘I’ll never forget this!” My dad would’ve lost his religion. He thought an ATM was going “too far.”
They were charming and fun. “JagWire!”
Priceless.
Put it in a time capsule.
I would urge people to watch the video. They asked the same questions I would have. And it looks fun. Sign me up.
Get ready. They’ll be everywhere soon.
Another Bay Area innovation
Loved this! Thanks for sharing.
Our pleasure! They were charming… and they’ve seen so much in their lives.