Thinking of Taking Waymo to Fleet Week? It’s Complicated

In an effort to prevent a repeat of the city’s July Fourth traffic meltdown, city transportation officials have expanded public transit service, restricted autonomous vehicle operations and discouraged spectators from driving to Fleet Week this weekend.

It’s the first time the city has ever geofenced Fleet Week, although the practice is common for other large-scale events, such as the Outside Lands music festival, according to SFMTA.

Both Waymo and Zoox said they would comply with the geofence request from the city.

The increased regulation of autonomous vehicle companies comes as Waymo steadily expands its fleet size in the Bay Area.

This year’s Fleet Week is likely to be more popular than past years, Sherrill said at a September hearing, partly because the U.S. Navy’s aerobatic team, the Blue Angels, are set to return after last year’s government shutdown canceled them.