By Calvin Welch, HANC Board
While technophiles eagerly await the full operation of corporate-owned driverless electric taxis, the concern of some that these vehicles may prove an alluring alternative to public transit for cash-strapped urban transit managers and their elected official bosses may be working itself on San Francisco streets.
At the September 9th HANC general meeting featuring SFMTA, WAYMO and other driverless car companies, Supervisor Mar’s office has been invited to share with us the background to the recent announcement by WAYMO that it will operate throughout District 4, presented by Mar at the Board of Supervisors. In an August 25th piece appearing on 48 Hills (https://48hills.org/2021/08/waymo-and-the-invasion-of-the-corporate-body-snatchers/), Herb Mintz reports that Mar’s office learned that the area was selected as “a result of an SFMTA study” of the district . While the study results were “apparently” shared with WAYMO, SFMTA “did no outreach. Not to the residents, and not even to our office,” Mar staffer Ralph Lane told Mintz. Mintz asked SFMTA for a comment but none was forthcoming. Perhaps HANC can get some answers.
It is perhaps a coincidence that SFMTA did a study on intersections layout in the Sunset and WAYMO chose the same area to start its driverless operations. Equally it may also be a coincidence that the three remaining major transit lines still suspended –the 6 the 21 and the L- all serve the same area that WAYMO will begin its driverless operations. Join us at HANC on Thursday, September 9th, 7 pm to get answers to these and other questions.
Please join us on Thursday, September 9, at 7:00 pm. Our meeting will focus on the impacts of driverless vehicles on the Haight Ashbury. We have invited representatives from SFMTA, Supervisor Mar's office, Waymo, Cruise, and Zoox to provide information and to answer your questions.
To join the meeting, copy this link:
https://zoom.us/j/97001985280?pwd=Nkx2UVFPSTRVWGVXUVZEbFRkb0xwQT09
Or, with the Zoom app:
Meeting ID: 970 0198 5280
Passcode: 333544
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The closest number is:
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 970 0198 5280
Passcode: 333544
Additional numbers can be found at: https://zoom.us/u/acJ3FRWOWk