This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Amina Green, a 29-year-old data scientist based in San Francisco. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity. A Waymo spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
I remember being excited for my first Waymo ride earlier last year.
When I was a child, I got into a really bad car accident, so I’ve always been afraid to drive myself around. It’s a personal choice for me not to get my driver’s license, so I walk most places in San Francisco or use ride-hailing.
I’ve known about autonomous-driving technology for a while. I’ve been living in SF for about five years. So it was exciting just to even step inside a Waymo for the first time.
The robotaxi felt safe. I appreciate the ease of use, the convenience, and the privacy.
Sometimes, after coming back from therapy, I call a Waymo because I can be in a sensitive state of mind, so I’d prefer to be alone.
It’s also just fun. It feels so sci-fi. I even made a video of myself doing my makeup inside the robotaxi, and it got a lot of views on social media. There’s the novelty of it to some extent. But it’s also like having my own energy or vibe in the car; I can set the music to what I like, I can control the temperature — those sorts of things.
Then, in September 2024, I was involved in an incident inside a Waymo that left me a little scared and frustrated.
I was heading to an appointment to get my hair braided. I remember sitting in the front seat of the Waymo, filming randomly as I’ve gotten into the habit of recording myself inside the car.
Then, near the South of Market-Tenderloin area, these two guys stepped right in front of my ride after the Waymo stopped for a red light.
I don’t know why they did that. They seemed like they were trying to be silly, but they kept badgering me for my number. I repeatedly told them to get out of the way, to stop, and that they were holding up traffic.
🚨Warning to women in SF 🚨
I love Waymo but this was scary 😣
2 men stopped in front of my car and demanded that I give my number.
It left me stuck as the car was stalled in the street.
Thankfully, it only lasted a few minutes…
Ladies please be aware of this pic.twitter.com/6VEqb1WoJb— Amina (@Amina_io) September 30, 2024
I was annoyed because I was already running late for my hair appointment. But I was also a bit afraid. I used to work for a nonprofit in this neighborhood, so I knew that if something happened, there wouldn’t be police nearby or anyone to really help.
The most frustrating part was that after the guys left, my Waymo just sat there. It was a little scary, but also kind of annoying. Other drivers on the road were getting upset, and I felt like a sitting duck. If it had happened at night, it would’ve been a lot scarier.
I don’t remember if I called Waymo’s remote assistance or if they contacted me, but the support team determined that something had happened during my ride. They asked if I was OK; I said yes and talked a bit. Throughout the day, they called me two more times to make sure I was OK.
I ended up getting $100 in credit and participated in a user research experience with the Waymo team. It was interesting to see the features they’re working on.
After the incident, I stopped taking Waymo for maybe about two or three months.
Waymo feels safer
After a while, I started taking Waymo again because I still feel safer riding in a Waymo than in a human-driven vehicle.
I’ve been using ride-hailing services for nearly 10 years. I’ve had mostly positive experiences using them, but I’ve also had a few weird incidents.
There are situations where I wouldn’t have wanted to be alone in a car with a stranger at night.
Sometimes, the ride is just straight-up dangerous. I recall a driver who was distracted by his phone, watching YouTube videos while driving.
I usually report these incidents, but I’m not sure how the companies handled the situation.
I feel safer knowing that Waymo has personnel on standby in case something happens to its cars.
The robots could improve
That’s not to say Waymo is perfect.
Beyond getting the engineering right, I think there are social and cultural factors the company should consider if it wants the technology to be widely adopted.
For example, people interact with the streets differently in different neighborhoods. I think about the Tenderloin, where it’s common for people to run into the middle of the street. Is Waymo thinking about the kinds of environments its cars go through?
Maybe Waymo could give users different route options that could avoid certain neighborhoods. It may not be politically correct to say, but I think this is just the basic reality of the world we live in: There are certain neighborhoods where women, or any person, might be more likely targeted if you’re by yourself.
It would also be nice if there were an extra security feature, such as automatically locking the door once the rider steps into the car.
Then, there are a lot of people in the city who aren’t in tech. To them, Waymo is a symbol of this larger cultural change in the region that they feel like they’re being left out of.
So, while I don’t agree with it, I almost understand why some people would vandalize the cars.
I’m also just a practical rider. I still use human ride-hailing services — I’d say it’s about 50-50 — because Waymo’s wait time can be a bit long. Or sometimes Waymo’s just way more expensive.
Ultimately, I’m positive about the technology. I hope this will be widely available, but there are some considerations and edge cases that may need to be addressed before mass adoption.
Do you have a story to share about preferring a human driver or a robot taxi? Contact this reporter at [email protected].
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