Waymo opens to public in Denver with ride-hailing in self-driving cars

Key Points:

• Waymo will launch its driverless vehicle service for Denver residents and visitors starting Tuesday, allowing users to hail cars via the company's app within a 60-square-mile zone covering downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.
• The service area excludes Denver International Airport and nearby cities like Aurora and Lakewood, with pricing comparable to other ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft, varying by demand.
• Despite the launch, a recent poll indicated that nearly 60% of Denver voters who haven't ridden in a Waymo vehicle are unlikely to do so, though Waymo officials believe skepticism will decrease as more people experience the technology.
• A recent incident involved a Waymo vehicle stopping abruptly to let a pedestrian cross, leading to a minor crash when another car failed to stop in time; the vehicle was operating without a passenger or driver at the time.
• Denver will feature Waymo’s newest "Ojai" vehicles, designed with larger screens, more legroom, and enhanced sensors for snowy conditions, as part of the company’s broader fleet of over 4,000 vehicles operating in 14 cities nationwide.