The ability to get to and from a place without the need for a driver is something most of us take for granted. Robotaxis make that freedom more ubiquitous.
Waymo has been on a roll as of late (but not entirely skirting past our criticism of self-driving companies and their motives). The Alphabet-owned company has offered discounted rides to local transit centers, reduced rider fares, and expanded its service network — all of which have helped the company see a three-fold increase in monthly ridership since the beginning of this year.
Waymo as a blind person finally gave me that feeling most people get at 16, driving independently for the first time. MAGIC!!!!
byu/Dowhile93 inwaymo
For able-bodied people, robotaxis remains more of a novelty than an earth-shattering shift in daily norms. But for those who suffer from mobility issues or visual impairments, these self-driving vehicles afford a level of independence able-bodied people often overlook.
A post on Reddit highlighted how Waymo’s fleet of autonomous vehicles affords a radical sense of autonomy for blind people; Reddit user [slash]Dowhile93 explained (in fantastic detail) how a recent trip to San Francisco was transformed (for the better) by the option to ride in robotaxis.
“I visited SF this past week and took Waymo’s everywhere,” they write on Reddit, describing how the auditory ques from the Waymos helped them find the passenger seat and offered a sense of security that “never got old” — “it was an unforgettable experience for me.”
The Reddit user went as far as to say she’d back to SF, “just to use Waymo, tbh.”
“I loved playing my music, rolling down the windows, always getting into a clean car… I can’t say enough wonderful things,” the continued.
Robotaxis offers those with physical impairments that would otherwise require a driver the chance to experience a feeling many of us take for granted: riding along in a passenger car … without anyone else inside of it. That joy of blasting music; the introspection solo car drivers offer; the welcomed solitude of being with your thoughts while getting to and from a place; the last-minute “pep-talk” you can have for yourself en route to a first date, a job interview, a pitch meeting; the feeling of independence so many of us associate with adulthood — being alone inside a passenger car. There’s palpable science behind why moving in a car alone is incredibly therapeutic.
Another “mind-blowing,” often overlooked perk of robotaxis? The ability to drop off friends, sans the need of a driver: “I had an experience where three of my blind pals got in a Waymo with me. I sat up front and dropped them off at their house before going on to my hotel… It just blew my mind.”
Soon enough, San Franciscans and tourists alike, regardless of visual acuity, will have the option to board big af toasters around the city.
Feature image: Courtesy of Waymo
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