By tf-lawyer.com Waymo, the self-driving taxi company, has launched a new pilot program aimed at rewarding passengers in the Bay Area. According to a report from the San Francisco Standard, passengers who are picked up near certain bus stops will earn a $3 credit. The program kicked off on October 17 and will run until November 15, marking the first initiative of its kind for Waymo.
To qualify for the incentive, users must begin their ride within Waymo’s local service area, which includes parts of San Francisco, Daly City, and Colma. The participating bus stops are Glen Park BART, Balboa Park BART, Daly City BART, Colma BART, West Portal Muni, Third Street & Revere/Shafter Muni, Fourth and King Caltrain, and 22nd Street Caltrain.
Waymo reports that 36% of its passengers in San Francisco utilize the service to connect to BART, Muni, or CalTrain. The company currently provides over 100,000 fully electric rides in its service area weekly, helping to reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 155 tons.
While BART, Muni, and CalTrain are aware of the program, they are not considered partners. Some transportation officials have criticized self-driving taxis for potentially obstructing emergency vehicles and creating road hazards. In August, one of Waymo’s autonomous vehicles encountered a sideshow while with a passenger, and a separate incident last year involved a self-driving car fatally striking an unrestrained dog.
Proposition L, aimed at taxing Waymo, Uber, and Lyft to fund local public transportation, will be presented to voters next month.
Waymo plans to utilize data from this pilot project to design future initiatives that focus on providing “first- and last-mile” rides, although specific details have not been disclosed.
Alicia Trost, a spokesperson for BART, stated that the transportation agency was not aware of Waymo’s pilot program but expressed support for it. She acknowledged that while Muni and SamTrans offer excellent services to the four participating BART stations, she understands that some passengers may prefer driving to public transit.
Trost remarked, “It’s great that people are trying to make it easier to get to BART.”
A representative from Caltrain expressed excitement about Waymo’s initiative, stating, “We’re pleased that Waymo is helping their passengers utilize our new service, and we look forward to seeing them on board.” The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency has not yet responded to requests for comments.
