A hot topic in recent months has been the debate and political fight in San Francisco about whether or not to let robotaxis from Waymo and Cruise operate 24/7.\nNaturally, robotaxi companies and their supporters disagree and believe that robotaxis improve public safety and remove more dangerous drivers from the road (and are just cool).\nThe news today: the vote has finally taken place and these robotaxi companies have been granted the right to do what they’re been eager to do and operate commercially 24/7.\nThe California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) hearing lasted 6 hours, and then the commissioners voted 3-1 in favor of the robotaxi companies.\nIf robotaxi companies don’t get their sh** together with regard to some of the issues raised by critics and concerned community members, the CPUC could change its mind.
"}}}},{"node":{"postTitle":"The ‘robotaxis’ crowding San Francisco’s streets, and the people who hate them","slug":"the-robotaxis-crowding-san-franciscos-streets-and-the-people-who-hate-them","publishDate":"None","createdLocal":"2023-08-11 14:31:05.623192","feedName":"Autonomous Vehicle News","postSummary":{"childMarkdownRemark":{"html":"SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — Anyone on San Francisco’s streets knows its latest technical marvel: cars moving through traffic without a driver.\nUntil Thursday, those vehicles operated throughout San Francisco and parts of nearby cities, only charging fares with a driver present.\nThe companies — which report mileage and collisions to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the California Department of Motor Vehicles — claim their vehicles create safer streets.\nSan Francisco resident Cyrus Hall said that as an engineer, he thinks the companies should pause service to fix glitches and prevent accidents.\nShanin Specter, an injury attorney lecturing at UC Law San Francisco, said he thinks autonomous vehicles have not been proven as safer than human-driven cars.
"}}}},{"node":{"postTitle":"California agency approves San Francisco robotaxi expansion amid heavy opposition","slug":"california-agency-approves-san-francisco-robotaxi-expansion-amid-heavy-opposition","publishDate":"2023-08-11 00:00:00","createdLocal":"2023-08-11 14:30:59.862833","feedName":"Autonomous Vehicle News","postSummary":{"childMarkdownRemark":{"html":"In an aerial view, Waymo autonomous vehicles sit parked in a staging area on June 08, 2023 in San Francisco, California.\nJustin Sullivan | Getty ImagesAlphabet Inc's Waymo and General Motors' Cruise can operate paid robotaxi services using unmanned self-driving vehicles throughout San Francisco, California state regulators voted on Thursday, in the face of vigorous pushback from city transportation, safety agencies and many residents.\nThe move marks a critical step forward in regulating the robot cars, which Waymo, Cruise and others have been systematically rolling out in cities and states around the nation.\nSan Francisco, however, is important as a both symbolic hub of tech and, with over 500 autonomous vehicles already in operation, it is the largest test lab for the experimental cars.\nThe vehicles, with empty driver seats and self-turning steering wheels, have become a common sight around San Francisco.
"}}}},{"node":{"postTitle":"San Francisco moves to center of robotaxi universe after California agency vote","slug":"san-francisco-moves-to-center-of-robotaxi-universe-after-california-agency-vote","publishDate":"None","createdLocal":"2023-08-11 14:30:59.106842","feedName":"Autonomous Vehicle News","postSummary":{"childMarkdownRemark":{"html":"Cruise and Waymo have been running experimental services limited by times and geographic areas within San Francisco.\nThe approval “marks the true beginning of our commercial operations in San Francisco,” said Tekedra Mawakana, Waymo co-CEO, in a prepared statement.\nSan Francisco is important as both a symbolic hub of tech and, with hundreds of AVs already in operation, the largest test lab for the experimental cars.\nThe vehicles, with empty driver seats and self-turning steering wheels, have become a common sight around San Francisco.\nCommissioner Genevieve Shiroma advocated for a delayed vote noting the volume of public comment and her lingering concerns following evidence that the vehicles have obstructed emergency vehicles in San Francisco.
"}}}},{"node":{"postTitle":"Autonomous taxi services granted 24/7 operations in San Francisco","slug":"autonomous-taxi-services-granted-24-7-operations-in-san-francisco","publishDate":"2023-08-11 12:49:35+05:30","createdLocal":"2023-08-11 14:30:57.459242","feedName":"Autonomous Vehicle News","postSummary":{"childMarkdownRemark":{"html":"Regulators in California have approved the expansion of autonomous vehicle companies, Cruise and Waymo, allowing them to offer commercial robotaxi services throughout San Francisco on a continuous basis.\nPresently, Cruise and Waymo provide limited paid services in the city with human safety operators onboard.\nCPUC Commissioner John Reynolds remarked, \"Today's development is just the initial stride towards introducing autonomous vehicle transportation services to Californians.\"\nWaymo hailed the decision as a monumental milestone for autonomous vehicles, with Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo, stating, \"This permit signifies the true inauguration of our commercial operations within San Francisco.\"\nCruise's CEO, Kyle Vogt, echoed this sentiment, describing it as a substantial achievement for the autonomous vehicle industry, emphasizing California's commitment to progress over the existing norm.
"}}}},{"node":{"postTitle":"Cruise autonomous rideshare service expands coverage in Phoenix area","slug":"cruise-autonomous-rideshare-service-expands-coverage-in-phoenix-area","publishDate":"2023-08-10 00:00:00","createdLocal":"2023-08-11 14:30:54.142894","feedName":"Autonomous Vehicle News","postSummary":{"childMarkdownRemark":{"html":"Cruise, an autonomous vehicle operator and a subsidiary of General Motors, is expanding its coverage area in the Valley, creating a service area of 100 square miles including portions of Chandler, Tempe, Scottsdale and Phoenix.\nAs the vehicle area expands, Cruise is adding more power users to its program.\nCruise's first expansion for PhoenixThis is the company’s first expansion of its robotaxi coverage in the Phoenix area since it launched here in late 2022.\nDriverless cars in Phoenix:Waymo expands coverage area in Phoenix.\nThe company's Phoenix footprint is the largest contiguous coverage area for an autonomous vehicle operator in the world, covering about 225 square miles.
"}}}},{"node":{"postTitle":"California allows robo-taxis to expand and emergency responders aren't happy","slug":"california-allows-robo-taxis-to-expand-and-emergency-responders-aren-t-happy","publishDate":"2023-08-10 00:00:00","createdLocal":"2023-08-11 14:30:53.783065","feedName":"Autonomous Vehicle News","postSummary":{"childMarkdownRemark":{"html":"Hundreds of the autonomous vehicles have been roaming city streets over the past couple of years.\nOn Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission, or CPUC, voted 3-1 to let self-driving car companies expand their programs and start charging passengers like taxis.\nMuch of that testimony was about how autonomous vehicles have impeded emergency operations in the city.\nThe autonomous vehicles are run by Cruise, which is owned by General Motors, and Waymo, which is owned by Google parent Alphabet.\nDuring a July earnings call, Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt said the city could handle several thousand more driverless cars.
"}}}},{"node":{"postTitle":"Your next cab ride is here, but without a driver: Autonomous taxis ready for you","slug":"your-next-cab-ride-is-here-but-without-a-driver-autonomous-taxis-ready-for-you","publishDate":"2023-08-11 11:48:18+05:30","createdLocal":"2023-08-11 14:30:52.760194","feedName":"Autonomous Vehicle News","postSummary":{"childMarkdownRemark":{"html":"Waymo cars were cleared to travel at speeds as fast as 65 miles per hour (105 kilometers per hour) without human drivers at the wheel, even in some inclement weather.\nCruise was approved to run fared passenger service in San Francisco at no faster than 35 miles per hour and not through dense fog or heavy smoke.\nWaymo had not been allowed to charge for rides without a human driver on board.\nDriverless cars were first introduced in San Francisco in 2014 with a mandatory human \"safety driver\" on board.\nFour years later, California scrapped its requirement for a human driver to be in the car.
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