Opinion: Robotaxis a ‘Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing’

Is autonomous ride-hailing “an asset to cities and transit agencies?” In a piece for Bloomberg CityLab, David Zipper questions this assertion, which robotaxi companies are eager to make. “Transit-robotaxi synergy is an enticing message at a time when public transportation agencies face a dire funding shortage, and it could especially resonate among left-leaning residents in places like the Bay Area who value buses and trains even if they seldom use them.”

But the industry is “a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” Zipper warns. After outlining the potential problems with a Waymo promotion that encourages people to get dropped off at Bay Area transit stations, Zipper notes that “According to a 2022 study of the region, just 0.4% of the region’s transit journeys included a ride-hail trip.”

Automobiles inflict damage that many cities are now trying to reverse by encouraging transit or biking, which are far more space-efficient and sustainable than even an electric car, autonomous or not.

Zipper adds that autonomous ride-hailing will likely follow the same pattern as its human-driven predecessors, which did not yield an increase in transit trips and often created more congestion. “In fact, a surge in self-driving cars would likely be a net negative for transit (even if the vehicles do not squat on transit lines and bus stations, as has happened repeatedly in San Francisco).”