San Francisco keeps robotaxis off its waterfront during Fleet Week
San Francisco will block robotaxis such as Waymo from picking up or dropping off riders along its northern waterfront from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday during Fleet Week. Uber, Lyft and taxis can still serve the area. The limits follow a new California law that can fine robotaxi firms for blocking first responders.
Robotaxis will have to sit out part of one of San Francisco's biggest weekends. The city's transportation agency, SFMTA, said driverless cars like Waymo will be fenced out of the northern waterfront from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday during Fleet Week, CBS News Bay Area reported. Uber, Lyft and regular taxis can still drive there.
The no-go zone stretches along Marina Boulevard, Fort Mason, Aquatic Park and Fisherman's Wharf. It runs south to Lombard and North Point streets and east to The Embarcadero. Robotaxis will be barred from the entire Presidio, too. The city said the goal is to avoid traffic jams and keep pedestrians safe near the water.
The city has reasons to be careful. After the July 4 fireworks show, several robotaxis stalled in travel lanes, and some ran out of battery, city officials said. During a citywide power outage last December, about 1,500 Waymo vehicles stalled, according to state Sen. Dave Cortese's office. Officials said they struggled to reach Waymo that night until the mayor called personally.
Those episodes helped drive a new state law. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Cortese's Senate Bill 1246 on Sept. 30. By July 1, 2028, it will require robotaxi companies to send local technicians to help at crashes and breakdowns. Companies must tell cities where their cars are during system-wide failures. Local governments can seek penalties when a robotaxi blocks first responders for more than 30 minutes.
The law also says anyone who drives a robotaxi from afar must be based in the U.S. and hold a U.S. license, TechCrunch reported. Tesla is the only company that has said its remote staff can take direct control. Waymo says its remote helpers only guide the car's software, and it uses staff in places including the Philippines. Waymo and Zoox have said they will comply.
Waymo has about 4,000 robotaxis nationwide, about 1,200 of them in the Bay Area, TechCrunch reported. In Texas, Tesla just pushed its Austin robotaxi hours to 11 p.m., with Elon Musk saying the cars still struggle to spot "grey kittens on grey tarmac in the dark," Teslarati reported.
What we know: Robotaxis are barred from the waterfront zone Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What we don't: How Waymo will reroute riders headed to Fleet Week events.
Where outlets agree TechCrunch and Sen. Cortese's office both say SB 1246 lets local governments seek penalties when a robotaxi blocks first responders for more than 30 minutes and requires U.S.-based remote drivers.
Where they differ The remote-driver rule may land unevenly: Tesla says its remote staff can take direct control, while Waymo says its remote helpers only guide the software.