WAYMO Better~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Tech Marvels, TRAVEL REVIEWS

(click/tap to enlarge to see the happy passenger!)

We are on the road again.

A Jaguar driverless taxi,

is a great way to roll!

No need to keep up conversation with your taxi driver.

There isn’t one!

Optimal for cruising over-crowded San Francisco.

You can fully enjoy the scenery without bickering about directions.

Back seat drivers are pointless because the car doesn’t care!

There are lots of these taxis ferrying people around Presidio National Park in San Francisco.

The Presidio,

is a blooming beauty this time of year.

Cheers to you from Presidio National Park in San Francisco~

(Note- WAYMO is a fleet of fully autonomous electric vehicles owned by Alphabet the parent company of Google. It has taxis available throughout San Francisco, and in designated areas of Los Angeles, Austin and Phoenix).

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226 thoughts on “WAYMO Better~”

  7. Nice shots! I don’t think I could get in a driverless car. I am assuming they rely on gps and that is not so accurate. I have one made in Canada. After I got it int got confused and off track on major streets in Ottawa near Parliament. You would think a Canadian made gps could steer you around that area with ease. I am sure the street have been there at least 100 years. A friend did a driverless uber I think. It got her there.

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    1. Well, yes….. there are always those little pesky burps. 😉 At The Holler, which is the boonies, GPS directs hapless souls across dirt roads and cow pastures, to a solid dead end in the middle of nowhere, with no lights, or cell service. When it is Amazon, delivering at night, it is unsafe. I did read about some drivers driving into lakes and such while following GPS. Kinda like WordPress with much worse consequences 🤖🚘

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  8. Wow! You experienced a driverless car! You are a trusting soul… and a wonderful photographer. Thank you for lovely images from a beloved city!

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    1. I loved the passengers faces in the car. It was like are kids on a ride in Disneyland, which is some ways I guess they are! The taxis are dropping a lot of people off at The Disney Museum which is next door to our hotel. 🤖🚘

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  11. Hey wait a minute…who gets out to change a flat tire? 🤣
    Great shots Cindy, and a delight with such a range of flowers. Spring has indeed sprung many a bloom kind lady. A quick question, I take it the island across the water is Alcatraz off in the distance in one of your pictures? Thank you for the share, and no, I don’t need a room thanks all the same 🤗🤣❤️🙏

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    1. Yes. That is Alcatraz. I think one of those google robots would be immediately dispatched to change the tire. I bet the car fixing robot drives quickly. The car certainly does. I remember years ago in San Jose, leaving a hospital parking lot late at night, when this giant egg approached me. We all know about them now, but at the time it was new and experimental. I could tell it was a robot and probably for safety, but had no idea what to do with it. It followed me to my car and beeped at me when I backed up. I have no idea what it was trying to say….. 😉 😉 🤖🚘

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  12. The driverless car is a novelty but I prefer to play it safe. Your photos, as you always do, are a delight for the eyes. May your Sunday be very special Cindy

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  14. Wow! What a gorgeous area you are wallowing in….erm visiting.
    Thanks for the splendid shots!
    The taxi…well, it seems fine where you are, but it will be awhile until I get into one in Toronto. It’s moved up to 7th place for worst traffic and 3rd for slowest traffic.
    Even the traffic doesn’t want to be in Toronto.

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    1. Laughing…..That is the weird thing, everyone stuck in major traffic doesn’t want to be stuck in traffic, and dream of being somewhere else. Traffic in the major traffic cities in the world is sort of an epic amazement, especially when you are driving in them. The impact of excessive traffic on San Fran is hard to even describe. It is ruining the city. The fact that google would test launch their cars here impresses me. They didn’t pick Jim’s hometown in Iowa to test their vehicles. 😉 😉 🤖🚘

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      1. I still have a license, but not a car.
        When I needed to hire someone for an entire day just to drive across the city to buy a shirt, it became clear that it was life or car life.
        I opted for a life where I can walk most places , or use public transit.
        Unfortunately, there are not many locations in cities that accommodate that lifestyle.
        I live in an area that has a large local village style shopping area, and more.
        Now we are facing life or internet life, soon life or AI life.
        There’s no going back, and there are great things about motor vehicles, technology and what’s next.
        Still, wherein lies a full, satisfying life? ❦🌹❦🌹

        Reply

        1. I hear you. It sounds frustrating and difficult. We all have things we fear, but you have accomplished so much in your life and are still doing so. Such a testament that your talent and creativity will not be contained. Walk or ride, your creative artistry will live on unimpeded 🤖🚗

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    1. I like most machines. And I like to see them advance, and experience what they can do. After all, smart people, make smart machines. And sometimes, good people make good machines that I want to take a ride in. I hope you and Jack are well 🤖🚘

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    1. Yep! Meet up here tomorrow morning. It’s gonna drive up alone here to The Lodge at the Presidio, and take Jim and I to The Coastal Overlook Trail, unless the constantly bleating fog horns mean the whole area will be fogged in. This would not deter the car, but it would me. Would love for you to ride along 😉 😉 🤖🚘

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      1. Carolina Mom

        I wish, Cindy. I live is Southeast. Enjoy your day and let me know how was your driverless taxi experience. 😊

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  19. Not feeling obligated to talk to the driver after a long trip is a big plus :o)… So far, the European cities visited on this trip are so gridlocked, not sure these vehicles would work – but guess they sit in traffic like all the others. Maybe they’ll eventually be able to sprout a helicopter rotor and bypass the gridlock misery. I lived in SF for many years before retiring in Oregon, and the Presidio is a beautiful favorite place – lucky you!

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    1. We are staying in The Presidio and I am seeing well over 10+ WAYMO’s a day. This is The Bay Area. They are always testing robots and new tech publicly and meeting one without knowing what it is, fun. I remember years ago, a giant egg escorted me to my car at night. I knew it was robotic and probably for safety, but had no idea how to interact with it. It beeped at me when I backed up. Didn’t dawn on me until later that it was warning other cars I was backing up. Lowes is using them now for security. They weigh 400 pounds and have all sorts of sensors and cameras. 🚗🤖

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    1. I hear you. I popped in front of one when I first saw it, to see what it was, and looked at it from all angles. It stopped on a dime, waited, and didn’t honk at me! No human would tolerate that!!! 😉 🚗🤖

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    1. Anonymous

      I didn’t know driverless taxi really is in use already. Interesting… but like someone said, a little bit scary too!

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      1. I think the concept of it may be a bit more scary than the reality of actually watching them in operation. I am seeing many of them daily and I am impressed. Less scary than many humans I have driven with 🚗🤖

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    1. No. I used my camera. I am probably seeing about 10+ WAYMO’s a day. There was a gorgeous one today covered in beautiful abstract art. I wish I had my camera 🚗🤖

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  25. The Presidio looks like a lovely place to visit. I’ll pass on the driverless taxi. If one of these things can survive Boston drivers, then I may reconsider.

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    1. San Fran traffic is epic too. They are testing it in a 63 square mile radius in LA. May the force be with them. LA drivers are a force to be reckoned with! 🚗🤖

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    1. Thank you. It is remarkable technology. We have a new car, that has a bunch of computerized applications built in. So I think we are getting exposed to the technology gradually. Google saving me from card catalogues was huge buy in for me! 😉 🤖🚗

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  29. Antique me. Makes me think we should give horses a second chance. Used to be a modern sort, computers before most anyone, but now… Is this my planet? And when it comes to AI, I’m positively hostile.

    Yea, and suppose it was strategic of the Army grabbing the best real-estate in all the SF peninsula, best views certainly. Hope you made it to the old brick fort down beneath the bridge. I miss San Francisco, for all its sins, the only city I’ve ever loved. (and thank you Tony Bennett)

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    1. Yes, I made it back to the old fort again and love it. We hiked through all of the park. Huge and gorgeous and quite historical. Great food too of course since it’s SF. Much like Camp Pendleton, the military presence saved these gorgeous chunks of California coastline from development. The Presidio looks onto the San Fran city scape like pastoral paradise. San Fran is still a beauty and I well know why you love her 🤖🚗

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  35. Not quite ready to trust a driverless car but I can see the advantages. We always go to the Presidio when we are in San Francisco. What a beautiful spot!

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  40. Now that’s an interesting concept. Don’t think it would work here because are roads are nothing but parking lots. You get nowhere fast Cindy.
    Leslie

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    1. Laughing….. I have no idea how they would traverse The Holler either. The GPS map misdirects so they might end up communing with the coyotes! 🤖🚗

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  41. I’ve never seen one of those before…how cool! Your line “Back seat drivers are pointless because the car doesn’t care!” totally cracked me up!!😆 Thank you for taking us on your new adventure! 😍

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  42. Deborah

    I don’t know about going driverless. I don’t know about other drivers too. But, that’s me, LOL.

    The Presidio is very picturesque. Wouldn’t mind visiting/staying there a few days. My dad and Teresa stayed there, separately of course, 2-3 weeks in the guest quarters while waiting for quarters across the bay at NAS Alameda

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    1. Small world. I stayed on Treasure Island in The Officers Quarters before it was offically decomissioned. There were only a few people on the island. It was magical 🤖🚗

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  43. Human drivers make me nervous, but so does the thought of driverless vehicles (especially BIG trucks!) If that makes me a control freak, so be it!! However, you’re so right: the Presidio is certainly abloom and quite lovely.

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    1. You triggered a memory of being on a driverless train too……. I think in London. And we werent’ the least bit scared were we? It was efficient. And also, now that you mention it, I’ve been on the driverless People Mover in Venice. You don’t think anything of it because no makes a big deal about it 🚗🤖

      Reply

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