4 ms·

They're the present here in SF, driving every day and more safely than the humans do. And as a human driver, I can testify that these streets are not particular

They're the present here in SF, driving every day and more safely than the humans do. And as a human driver, I can testify that these streets are not particularly easy to drive on.

robotnikman 2y ago
They are here in the Phoenix area too and I have not seen and issues with them. However, we are blessed by sunny weather 99% of the time. I think the biggest challenges will be having them drive in adverse weather conditions present throughout the rest of the country, such as blizzards, hail, torrential rain, dense fog.
- hnburnsy 2y ago
  Not just sunny weather, but straight streets laid out in a N/S and E/W pattern, very little grade, and consistent numbering\naming across cities.
- arebop 2y ago
  We have abundant fog and seasonal rain in SF, but not much hail or snow. That's why they've done winter testing in Tahoe (since 2017) and Buffalo NY (last winter).
- jeffbee 2y ago
  Waymo is likely already better than a upper-quartile meat module under those conditions. https://x.com/Boenau/status/1795495310170685915 https://x.com/Boenau/status/1795495310170685915
- chpatrick 2y ago
  I used one when it was somehow raining in Phoenix and it worked fine apart from being a bit confused by a puddle when stopping.
- cut3 2y ago
  Oh they have issues. Waymos are super janky when they are in parking lots, often just sitting in the middle of the driving lane waiting for their fare. I dont think they know how to park in a lot correctly. It is also funny to watch them get stuck behind busses, having followed too close to safely go around them when the bus stops to pickup/dropoff. Also Ive seen multiple instances of them trying to turn left on red and pull far enough into an intersection to cause issues. Finally when I am on my skateboard they dont seem to recognize me as they drive very very close and fast, though I havent felt risky enough to really test this.
  - Karrot_Kream 2y ago
    Interesting, as a cyclist Waymos have always been very aware of me and usually slow down for me if I've taken the lane, and stop for me if it's starting to move after picking up someone but sees me pass. I wonder if their training set doesn't have enough skateboarders.
- 8note 2y ago
  I don't think blizzards, hail, torrential rain, and dense fog will be particularly challenging for waymos, at least not keeping the card driving in a controlled a predictable state. The hard thing is that every other human car acts randomly because they don't say, have winter tires, and unlike waymo, don't have the very quick control loop.
- seanmcdirmid 2y ago
  You know, that’s a challenge for human drivers as well. Try getting an Uber during those weather events, their might be one or two running crazily to get super surge pricing when there are usually a few hundred.
clpm4j 2y ago
Yes, they're actually awesome. 'Waymo' has replaced 'Uber' in my vocabulary, e.g. "Let's just Waymo there".
- a0986373 2y ago
  How much does the average trip go for distances such as your use case?
  - JumpCrisscross 2y ago
    > How much does the average trip go for distances such as your use case? They seem to undercut Uber and Lyft by a hair. Given the longer wait times, and lack of a need to tip, that seems fair. (In San Francisco, they undercut by a wider margin. But human ride shares are more expensive there for a variety of reasons.)
    - brrwind 2y ago
      That's not my experience. I've rarely seen a comparably priced ride. They're usually at least 50% more expensive than Uber or Lyft.
      - JumpCrisscross 2y ago
        > usually at least 50% more expensive than Uber or Lyft Hmm, I used them this weekend and was comparing pricing. Waymo was cheaper. That said, I wasn’t riding during peak traffic. And in peak traffic, I’d vastly prefer a Waymo. So I get the premium pricing.
      - philkrie 2y ago
        In my experience it seems that the price floor is higher, but the ceiling is lower. Short rides (~10 min) that might cost 8-9$ (before tip) on Uber / Lyft, cost $18-20 on Waymo. If I'm going to the other side of San Francisco (say, North Beach to Stonestown), it will be $33-35. I've never seen it in the $40s-50s as I often do with Uber / Lyft for long distance trips during surge pricing. But that's just anecdotal.

They're the present here in SF, driving every day and more safely than the humans do. And as a human driver, I can testify that these streets are not particularly easy to drive on.

robotnikman 2y ago

They are here in the Phoenix area too and I have not seen and issues with them. However, we are blessed by sunny weather 99% of the time. I think the biggest challenges will be having them drive in adverse weather conditions present throughout the rest of the country, such as blizzards, hail, torrential rain, dense fog.

hnburnsy 2y ago
Not just sunny weather, but straight streets laid out in a N/S and E/W pattern, very little grade, and consistent numbering\naming across cities.
arebop 2y ago
We have abundant fog and seasonal rain in SF, but not much hail or snow. That's why they've done winter testing in Tahoe (since 2017) and Buffalo NY (last winter).
jeffbee 2y ago
Waymo is likely already better than a upper-quartile meat module under those conditions. https://x.com/Boenau/status/1795495310170685915 https://x.com/Boenau/status/1795495310170685915
chpatrick 2y ago
I used one when it was somehow raining in Phoenix and it worked fine apart from being a bit confused by a puddle when stopping.
cut3 2y ago
Oh they have issues. Waymos are super janky when they are in parking lots, often just sitting in the middle of the driving lane waiting for their fare. I dont think they know how to park in a lot correctly. It is also funny to watch them get stuck behind busses, having followed too close to safely go around them when the bus stops to pickup/dropoff. Also Ive seen multiple instances of them trying to turn left on red and pull far enough into an intersection to cause issues. Finally when I am on my skateboard they dont seem to recognize me as they drive very very close and fast, though I havent felt risky enough to really test this.
- Karrot_Kream 2y ago
  Interesting, as a cyclist Waymos have always been very aware of me and usually slow down for me if I've taken the lane, and stop for me if it's starting to move after picking up someone but sees me pass. I wonder if their training set doesn't have enough skateboarders.
8note 2y ago
I don't think blizzards, hail, torrential rain, and dense fog will be particularly challenging for waymos, at least not keeping the card driving in a controlled a predictable state. The hard thing is that every other human car acts randomly because they don't say, have winter tires, and unlike waymo, don't have the very quick control loop.
seanmcdirmid 2y ago
You know, that’s a challenge for human drivers as well. Try getting an Uber during those weather events, their might be one or two running crazily to get super surge pricing when there are usually a few hundred.

clpm4j 2y ago

Yes, they're actually awesome. 'Waymo' has replaced 'Uber' in my vocabulary, e.g. "Let's just Waymo there".

a0986373 2y ago
How much does the average trip go for distances such as your use case?
- JumpCrisscross 2y ago
  > How much does the average trip go for distances such as your use case? They seem to undercut Uber and Lyft by a hair. Given the longer wait times, and lack of a need to tip, that seems fair. (In San Francisco, they undercut by a wider margin. But human ride shares are more expensive there for a variety of reasons.)
  - brrwind 2y ago
    That's not my experience. I've rarely seen a comparably priced ride. They're usually at least 50% more expensive than Uber or Lyft.
    - JumpCrisscross 2y ago
      > usually at least 50% more expensive than Uber or Lyft Hmm, I used them this weekend and was comparing pricing. Waymo was cheaper. That said, I wasn’t riding during peak traffic. And in peak traffic, I’d vastly prefer a Waymo. So I get the premium pricing.
    - philkrie 2y ago
      In my experience it seems that the price floor is higher, but the ceiling is lower. Short rides (~10 min) that might cost 8-9$ (before tip) on Uber / Lyft, cost $18-20 on Waymo. If I'm going to the other side of San Francisco (say, North Beach to Stonestown), it will be $33-35. I've never seen it in the $40s-50s as I often do with Uber / Lyft for long distance trips during surge pricing. But that's just anecdotal.