--- title: San Francisco has some thoughts on its robotaxi takeover - The Hustle description: It still seems to support one; it just wants it to be done incrementally. image: https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/717524212-HS-News-Brief_2023-02-01T021208.298Z.webp --- # San Francisco has some thoughts on its robotaxi takeover ![Jacob Cohen](https://thehustle.co/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/IMG_5670-1-modified-768x768.png?width=48&height=48&name=IMG_5670-1-modified-768x768.png) [Jacob Cohen](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/author/jacob-cohen) [Jacob Cohen Twitter profile ](https://twitter.com/ImJacobCohen) Published: April 11, 2023 Updated: October 11, 2023 A robotaxi takeover of the Golden City — while seemingly imminent — may take a while longer to roll out. ![San Francisco has some thoughts on its robotaxi takeover](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/717524212-HS-News-Brief_2023-02-01T021208.298Z.webp?width=595&height=400&name=717524212-HS-News-Brief_2023-02-01T021208.298Z.webp) The San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) recently wrote [two](https://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/reports-and-documents/2023/01/2023.01.25_ccsf_23.0125_cpuc_cruise_tier_2_advice_letter_protest_002.pdf) [letters](https://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/reports-and-documents/2023/01/2023.01.23_protest_of_waymo_llc_tier_3_advice_letter_0001.pdf) to the California Public Utilities Commission voicing concerns over the rapid expansion of Waymo and Cruise in the city. The Alphabet and GM autonomous vehicle subsidiaries are currently allowed to offer driverless rides in the city. Cruise is permitted to charge for these rides between 10pm and 6am, and Waymo is awaiting similar approval. #### **Why the concern?** Consider these examples, [gathered](https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/29/23576422/san-francisco-cruise-waymo-robotaxi-rollout) by *The Verge*: - Last July, driverless Cruise cars [blocked traffic](https://www.reddit.com/r/sanfrancisco/comments/vnmpf1/bunch_of_cruise_cars_stuck_on_gough_by_robin/) for hours. In September, it happened [again](https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/driverless-cruise-cars-block-SF-traffic-17467985.php). Earlier this month, firefighters had to [break into one](https://sfstandard.com/transportation/sf-officials-describe-chaos-from-cruise-waymo-cars-as-they-try-to-slow-their-rollout/) to prevent it from taking out an active hose. - In January, a driverless Waymo vehicle got stuck at a busy intersection. The traffic did [not look fun](https://twitter.com/melon6ix/status/1617927201542000646?). - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also currently investigating Cruise over traffic blocking and rear-ending concerns. **For what it’s worth,** the city seems generally supportive of the technology. “A series of limited deployments with incremental expansions — rather than unlimited authorizations — offer the best path toward public confidence in driving automation and industry success in San Francisco and beyond,” SFCTA wrote. Topics: [Ai](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/tag/ai) [Cruise](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/tag/cruise) [Transportation](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/tag/transportation) [Waymo](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/tag/waymo) ## Follow us on social media prev next - ![‘AI is not a writer:’ Why the writers’ strike deal matters beyond Hollywood](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/2028008005-httpsthdaily.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.comfinal_size-AI-WGA_20230927223315.webp) ### ‘AI is not a writer:’ Why the writers’ strike deal matters beyond Hollywood - ![Getty Images’ AI play](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1235356694-httpsthdaily.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.comfinal_size-woman-taking-photo_20230925214039.webp) ### Getty Images’ AI play - ![If an auto industry exec tells you their job doesn’t suck, don’t believe them](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/834999588-httpsthdaily.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.comfinal_size-auto_20230911231654.webp) ### If an auto industry exec tells you their job doesn’t suck, don’t believe them - ![Just because you can easily fly this new helicopter doesn’t mean you should](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/430149081-httpsthdaily.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.comfinal_size-chopper_20230905212031.webp) ### Just because you can easily fly this new helicopter doesn’t mean you should - ![AI-generated foraging books seem dangerous, right?](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1714231094-httpsthdaily.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.comfinal_size-mushrooms_20230830223519.webp) ### AI-generated foraging books seem dangerous, right? - ![When AI starts teaching AI, models may ‘collapse’](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/2069924254-httpsthdaily.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.comfinal_size-bottripping_20230829215041.webp) ### When AI starts teaching AI, models may ‘collapse’ - ![Where there’s smoke, there’s an autonomous vehicle blocking a fire](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/1254896453-httpsthdaily.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.comfinal_size-AutoSF_20230824221640.webp) ### Where there’s smoke, there’s an autonomous vehicle blocking a fire - ![CAPTCHAs get weirder as AI gets smarter](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/440738447-httpsthdaily.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.comfinal_size-captcha_20230808232842.webp) ### CAPTCHAs get weirder as AI gets smarter - ![$750m reasons we’re getting ever closer to flying cars becoming a reality](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/512068061-httpsthdaily.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.comfinal_size-alef_20230807231323.webp) ### $750m reasons we’re getting ever closer to flying cars becoming a reality - ![Using AI for the perfect fit](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/hubfs/The%20Hustle%20News/Assets/Images/211713850-httpsthdaily.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.comfinal_size-truetoform_20230807230535.webp) ### Using AI for the perfect fit Pop up for Subscribe to The Hustle Daily Newsletter Subscribe to The Hustle Daily Newsletter Get the 5-minute news brief keeping 2.5M+ innovators in the loop. 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