“Autonomous rides hit the Big Apple’s streets!”
As if New York taxi drivers didn’t have enough competition with Uber and Lyft, the mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, announced on Friday that the New York City Department of Transportation has granted Google’s autonomous vehicle subsidiary, Waymo, permission to test their self-driving cars in the city. These will be the first driverless cars to roam the streets.
Waymo will start with eight vehicles in New York City from September, operating in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, with the possibility of expanding to other areas in the future. Despite the cars being driverless, the state of New York will require Waymo to have a driver behind the wheel at all times in case intervention is necessary.
### A city aiming to lead innovation in transportation
“We are a tech-friendly government and always seek innovative ways to move safely through our city,” Adams said in a press release. “New York City is proud to welcome Waymo to test this new technology in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as we know this test is just the first step to bring our city fully into the 21st century.” Last year Adams signed a bill to allow autonomous vehicle testing in New York, paving the way for companies like Waymo to operate in the city.
This is not the first time autonomous vehicle operators have tried to enter the Big Apple. In fact, Waymo had already requested to bring their vehicles into the concrete jungle in 2021. Their visit mostly consisted of manual driving, collecting data on how to drive in icy and snowy conditions, and how to operate in a densely populated area. Four years later, they will finally see if they have learned enough to operate smoothly in New York.
For Waymo, already operating in several major markets, New York City was a coveted location. They already provide service in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin, with over 250,000 rides per week. Waymo plans to expand to Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, and Washington, D.C. next year, adding to their fleet. Reaching New York would be a milestone for Waymo, providing us with a modern version of that famous moment in transportation history.
