Waymo expands further into South Bay

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Waymo’s driverless cars are serving more South Bay destinations, including the Berryessa Transit Center in East San Jose, giving commuters another option for getting to and from public transportation — though some residents remain wary of the autonomous vehicles. The expansion on Nov. 3 also brings the ride-hailing service to the Great Mall and San Jose Fairgrounds, as well as additional neighborhoods in Los Gatos and Monte Sereno. Company representatives said the move expands Waymo’s Bay Area service area to 350 square miles. While VTA officials welcome additional transportation options, they have no plans to coordinate with the company. Some commuters also remain skeptical of driverless vehicles, citing concerns about safety, affordability and the technology’s impact on human jobs. “From our perspective, as a transit agency, anything that can get make it easier for people to get too public transit or from public transit to where they need to go is a help,” VTA spokesperson Stacey Ross told San José Spotlight. “That’s a positive.” Sergio Lopez, VTA board chair and a Campbell councilmember, did not respond to a request for comment. Waymo is encouraging its users to ride local buses and light rail through a rewards program that gives riders $2.85 in credits when they take a Waymo ride and use public transportation within two hours of each other. Related Stories Waymo spokesperson Mark Lewis said the expansion is part of the company’s effort to serve more riders across the Bay Area. He said the company plans to continue expanding its service across the South Bay and broader Bay Area, but has not yet identified exactly where the next expansion will be. Waymo currently services San Jose Mineta International Airport, parts of San Jose, including Santana Row, Westfield Valley Fair and neighborhoods such as Rosemary Gardens, Newhall, College Park, Cory, Willow Glen and Vista Park. The company also services the cities of Campbell and Cupertino. “A lot of people can take mass transit somewhere, but then to get the last mile to where their actual destination is, there’s a gap there,”Lewis told San José Spotlight. “Waymo wants to be a good partner and to help public transit thrive.” Sridharan S., who didn’t want his last name used to protect his privacy, is an avid cyclist who frequently travels to the Berryessa Transit Center. He said he has ridden in a Waymo and would consider using the service to get to the station. “I take the bus or bike, but I’d take Waymo as long as it’s safe,” he told San José Spotlight.” I haven’t heard too many bad things, it’s somewhere in the middle. I’ve taken Waymo it helped me to get from point A to point B.” But for some commuters, having another transportation option doesn’t necessarily mean they’re comfortable using it. Carl Wilson, who travels from South Hayward to East San Jose on BART, said he’s hesitant to use Waymo because he prefers having a human driver in control of the vehicle. It’s not a matter of price, but safety. “Honestly I’m scared to take Waymo, I’d rather be in control,” Wilson told San José Spotlight. “Seldomly, if it’s crunch time or something I’ll take a Uber or Lyft.” Federal regulators have raised concerns about the safety of Waymo’s driverless vehicles. On Nov. 6, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a recall query covering 2,895 Waymo vehicles to determine whether a software update adequately addressed reports of the vehicles passing stopped school buses with flashing red lights and extended stop arms. The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating a January incident in which a Waymo vehicle struck a 9-year-old student in a Santa Monica school zone. The child sustained minor injuries. Lisa Parks, who lives and works in Oakland but was in San Jose for work on Monday, said she would not use the service. “I think (Waymo is) taking away jobs from humans, and I don’t trust technology that much,” Parks told San José Spotlight. “I’ll take anything other than that, bicycle, walking, etc.” Contact Maryanne Casas-Perez at [email protected] or @mexicanredhead on Instagram.