Waymo is pushing its autonomous boundary lines ever further in the Golden State, marking new territories on the maps of San Francisco and Los Angeles where its robotaxis will roam. The San Francisco Chronicle noted this week that the tech giant will now offer rides in additional parts of Palo Alto and Menlo Park, extending into the South Bay Peninsula municipalities of Brisbane, Burlingame, Millbrae, South San Francisco, and San Bruno.
In what's appearing less like slow creep and more like a confident stride, the Alphabet-owned company also declared service expansions in Los Angeles set to take place on Wednesday. According to The Verge, areas such as Playa Del Rey and Echo Park, and some of the busier commuter routes like Mid-City to Inglewood and Westchester via La Cienega Boulevard and La Brea Avenue, will now be served by the autonomous vehicles. While Los Angeles residents encountered a brief hiccup in service earlier this month due to protests, Waymo's advances signify a swift recovery and push forward.
The Bay Area, renowned for its tech-driven dynamism, is witnessing Waymo nudge closer to San Francisco International Airport, a goal as strategic as it is symbolic. Amid this game of inches, Waymo's acquisition of permission to map roads near the airport in March stands out, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, albeit with the stipulation that human drivers stay at the helm for the moment. This expansion has not yet crossed into offering passenger rides to SFO, but wheels are certainly turning in that direction.
While the expansion is notable, Waymo maintains a prudent pace regarding highway driving and airport service, avenues that could redefine competition with ride-hail rivals like Uber and Lyft. As The Verge reports, Waymo spokesperson Chris Bonelli has revealed the company is still testing its vehicles on highways with employees and is discussing airport services with the authorities of both cities. However, Waymo's robotaxis at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport since late 2022 have set a precedent for potential service at SFO and LAX in the foreseeable future.
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