There’s something surreal about being behind the wheel in Los Angeles—zipping through traffic, weaving between lanes, and maneuvering through the never-ending sea of cars—only to glance over and realize the car next to you has no driver. As strange as it is to witness, it’s becoming a common sight as self-driving cars take to the streets.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet (Google’s parent company), has worked for years to perfect self-driving technology. Their cars have quietly rolled into select areas of LA, and I was eager to see what it’s like to ride in one. Here’s what happened when I let the car take control.
First, I decided to download the Waymo app, and the process was surprisingly easy. Initially, there was a waitlist, but I was approved almost immediately—within 24 hours. On November 12th I received an email announcing that Waymo One is now open to everyone in Los Angeles. This means there’s no waitlist or invite code required anymore.
At 12:10 PM on a weekday I called Waymo, and I was directed to meet the car about a five-minute walk away. It was parked in a lot in West Hollywood, next to an IHOP that had been closed sometime during the pandemic. Excited, I quickly unlocked the car, but as I did, I noticed it had blocked a man who was also using the parking lot. He was honking at the Waymo, even though it had no driver. I worried he might get upset with me as I was the only human in sight, but the car unlocked easily, and I jumped in without any confrontation.
The first thing I noticed was how seamlessly the car operated. I expected a bit of hesitation or awkward maneuvering, but no—this car was smooth, confident, and efficient. However, it was also playing a strange game of chicken with the man, who had been blocked in. He was backing up at the same time as the car, which was stressful until we made it out of the parking lot. After that, it was clear sailing. As we cruised through the streets of LA, I watched as the car intelligently handled traffic, made turns, and navigated tricky intersections—all without any human intervention.
The interior was exactly what you’d expect from a high-end ride: sleek, comfortable, and quiet. But the real magic was happening behind the scenes. Sensors and cameras dotted the vehicle, scanning the environment in real-time to map out our surroundings. According to Waymo, their vehicles are equipped with a comprehensive sensor suite, including cameras, lidar, and radar, providing a 360-degree view of the environment. This setup allows the car to constantly collect data, process it, and make decisions on the fly. Waymo’s research highlights the integration of multimodal sensor data to enhance decision-making capabilities. It was like sitting in the cockpit of a high-tech spaceship—except this one was navigating Santa Monica Boulevard, not Mars.
During the ride from West Hollywood to Beverly Hills, I passed by tourist buses. I could see people snapping pictures of me in the car, which, I’ll admit, felt a bit awkward. But overall, it was hard to deny that this ride was the future of travel, even if it came with a few curious onlookers.
What does this mean for Los Angeles, a city notorious for its traffic jams? While autonomous vehicles have the potential to alter how we view car ownership in a city where it’s often seen as essential, it’s still unclear how they will address LA’s traffic woes. Improving bike lanes, enhancing public transit, and reducing urban sprawl might have a more immediate impact.
Autonomous vehicles could bring new safety benefits, and some might feel safer not sharing a car with a human driver. This technology could also be a game-changer for those with mobility issues, the aging population, and people who fear flying or don’t want to pay to ship a car across the country.
However, the bigger question is how these vehicles will handle unexpected situations. While self-driving cars don’t text or drive under the influence, there are still concerns and challenges we might not foresee. There are also a few kinks to work out—just ask the driver my Waymo blocked in the parking lot.
Despite the impressive technology, we’re still in the early stages of full autonomy. There are regulatory hurdles, public skepticism, and the usual challenges that come with introducing new technology. Time will tell if it lives up to its promises of reducing traffic and making the roads safer.
In conclusion, my ride with Waymo was a preview of what transportation could look like. It was smooth, efficient, and far more enjoyable than I expected. While the full adoption of self-driving cars may still be a few years away, it’s clear that Waymo is at the forefront of something truly revolutionary. In a city like LA, where traffic can feel like a never-ending nightmare, the idea of hopping into a car and letting technology do the work feels like a self-driving dream.
That said, I tried calling another Waymo later that evening to meet friends, but the wait time was 22 minutes, even though I was in the middle of LA and only a 2-minute Uber wait. So, I faced my fate and drove myself through the infamous Hollywood traffic, which was a reminder that, just like my extended Waymo wait time, self-driving still has a little road ahead of it before it’s ready to pick up the masses.