BREAKING: Waymo has officially begun autonomous test drives in Philadelphia, marking a major step toward the launch of its driverless ride-hailing service. The California-based company confirmed the development on October 27, 2023, as its vehicles began navigating the streets of Center City—but riders will have to wait to hail a ride.
As of now, trained human specialists are behind the wheel during these test drives, but Waymo is gearing up for a fully autonomous launch, which is sparking mixed reactions from local residents. Brendan Divilly, who previously rode with Waymo in San Francisco, expressed his concerns: “Very dystopian. Definitely an experience, but I think a lot of people will be skeptical of them.”
Others voiced doubts about the vehicles adapting to Philadelphia’s notoriously challenging traffic conditions. Local attorney Paul Kahn stated, “This isn’t that much fun… it’s a bad driving city.” Furthermore, concerns about safety and the reliability of AI technology surfaced, with resident Ryan Berry remarking, “I can picture a flat Waymo, that’s for sure.”
Waymo’s expansion to Philadelphia is part of its broader strategy to extend services across the East Coast, which already includes cities like Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. The company has previously faced scrutiny due to high-profile incidents involving its vehicles, including an episode where a car blocked traffic outside an NFL stadium in Atlanta. Such events have heightened skepticism among Philadelphians.
In an official statement, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) emphasized that this testing represents a significant step toward driverless operations in the state. They confirmed ongoing collaboration with Waymo as it prepares for its public launch. However, the company has not yet provided a specific timeline for when the public can start hailing rides.
A Waymo spokesperson stated, “Riders won’t be able to hail a Waymo just yet. Once we are fully autonomous, we’ll let the public know when they can ride.” As of now, the vehicles are already stirring curiosity and concern among onlookers, with sightings of the distinctively marked cars becoming a talking point among residents.
As more vehicles hit the streets, the anticipation grows. What remains unclear is how the public will react once the service officially launches. For now, Waymo continues to navigate the road toward a future of autonomous ride-hailing in Philadelphia, and residents can expect to see the vehicles on the move as testing progresses.
Stay tuned for further updates on this rapidly developing story as Waymo inches closer to its goal of full autonomy in the City of Brotherly Love.
