Driverless taxis have arrived in regular passenger service in San Francisco and Phoenix, and may soon get an okay in Los Angeles, but it appears that they are becoming not only an alternate means of transportation but a destination for tourists.
The Sydney, Australia Morning Herald's travel section reports that so many people are looking to ride the robotaxis operated by Waymo, a Google subsidiary, that there are now waiting lists in both cities and pickup requests are focused on tourist locations such as the Ferry Building, Pier 39 and the Coit Tower in San Francisco. In Phoenix, the cars operate to and from the airport.
Self-driving cars, but with a backup driver aboard, have been on the roads since 2009, but have only recently been licensed to carry passengers and to operate without backup. Expansion is planned by the company, but there are also issues, including a number of accidents involving unmanned vehicles.
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