are there self driving cars in san francisco

[DakotaRose]

Yes, there are self-driving cars operating in San Francisco. As of late 2023, two companies, Waymo and Cruise, have received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to offer 24/7 commercial paid passenger service in the city. This means you can hail a fully autonomous vehicle—one with no human safety driver behind the wheel—much like you would an Uber or Lyft, through their respective apps. However, their operational areas are geofenced to specific parts of the city and their availability can fluctuate.

The reality of this technology on San Francisco streets is complex. While these vehicles represent a significant leap in autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, their deployment has been controversial. Residents have reported incidents of these cars unexpectedly stopping, or "bricking," and obstructing traffic or emergency responders. In October 2023, California's DMV suspended Cruise's permits to operate its driverless cars, significantly scaling back their presence following an incident with a pedestrian. This highlights the ongoing challenges and regulatory scrutiny facing the industry.

For a visitor or resident, encountering a self-driving car is now a common occurrence. To use one, you would download the Waymo One or Cruise app. Waymo's service often starts with a waitlist. The experience is similar to a ride-hail but can feel surreal; the car handles all driving tasks, and you can contact a remote advisor through an in-car screen if needed. The technology is impressive but still in a public testing phase, so riders should expect the possibility of cautious driving behaviors and occasional hiccups.

Service	Status in SF (as of early 2024)	Service Area	Key App Feature
Waymo	Operational with 24/7 paid driverless rides	Geofenced in downtown, SF Peninsula, etc.	Available via Waymo One app, often with a waitlist
Cruise	Driverless operations suspended by CA DMV	Service paused pending investigations	Cruise app not currently offering driverless rides
Zoox	Testing with safety drivers, not yet commercial	Limited to specific test routes	Not available to the public
Nuro	Testing for autonomous delivery, not passengers	Focused on goods delivery in select areas	Not a passenger service

[MacStephanie]

I see them all the time, especially downtown. It's wild. You're waiting to cross the street and a car rolls up with no one in the driver's seat. The big names are Waymo, which you can actually hail like an Uber, and Cruise, though I think Cruise got into some trouble recently and pulled their cars. They drive… carefully. Sometimes a little too carefully, like they'll stop for a leaf. It's definitely the future, but it's a weird future to live in every day.

[VonHeidi]

From a technical standpoint, San Francisco is the primary real-world proving ground for Level 4 autonomy. Waymo's vehicles, for instance, use a combination of LiDAR, radar, and cameras to create a 360-degree model of their environment. Their operational domain is meticulously mapped, which is why they are geofenced. The major challenge isn't just navigation, but predicting the unpredictable behavior of human drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians in a dense urban setting. The recent regulatory actions show the immense difficulty of this final step toward full commercialization.

[StSilas]

If you're visiting and want to try one, your best bet is Waymo. Download the 'Waymo One' app and see if you can get off the waitlist. The cars are all Jaguar I-PACEs, so they're nice. You type in your destination, the car arrives, and you get in. There's a button to start the ride and a screen to talk to support if something goes wrong. It's a smooth ride, but don't be surprised if it takes the longest, safest route possible. It's a unique SF experience worth trying once.

[LaJulianna]

The city has had a real mixed bag with these cars. Sure, it's cool tech, but there have been real problems. There are stories of them blocking bus lanes and even stalling in the middle of an active fire scene. My concern is about safety and public space. Are we just beta-testing for big tech on our city streets? The pushback from residents and city agencies is growing. It feels like the companies moved faster than the regulations, and now we're dealing with the consequences. The promise is there, but the execution needs a lot of work.