My Experience with Waymo One
My buddy Mark wouldn’t stop raving about his robot car rides in San Francisco, so I finally gave in and downloaded the app. I’ve been a loyal Uber user for ages, but the promise of a quiet, driverless trip was too weird to ignore. My first ride, on a drizzly Tuesday evening last October, was surreal. Watching the steering wheel turn itself as we navigated from the Marina to Hayes Valley felt like I was in a movie. After a dozen or so rides over the past year, the novelty hasn’t fully worn off, but the practical side of me has started asking more questions. It’s incredibly cool tech, but is it the best way to get from A to B every single time? For me, not always.
Features Worth Noting
The absolute best part is the peace and quiet. No awkward small talk, no loud radio, just a smooth, silent electric ride. The tablet in the back is super intuitive. I love being able to see exactly what the car “sees” on the map—pedestrians, cyclists, other cars—it’s all there. The “Pull Over” button is a genius safety net. I used it once near Union Square when I got a sudden work call and needed a quiet spot; the car just calmly found the next safe curb and stopped. The automatic locking is another win for security. The car only unlocks for my phone, which made me feel a lot better when getting dropped off late at night.
What Needs Work
The biggest issue for me has been support. Back in March, the app charged my card for a ride I was sure I canceled. I emailed support and got a generic auto-reply. A full three days later, I got a real response asking for screenshots and transaction IDs I didn’t have. It took another back-and-forth to get it sorted. For a premium-feeling service, that felt really cheap. Also, the driving can be *too* safe. I was running late to a dentist appointment on Fillmore Street, and the car waited so long for a perfect gap to make a left turn that I almost missed my slot. It drives like the world’s most cautious student driver, which is great for safety, frustrating when you’re in a hurry.
Pricing
As someone who hates hidden fees, I appreciate that the app itself is free. But the rides? They use the same surge pricing as Uber and Lyft. I’ve done side-by-side comparisons a few times. Sometimes Waymo is only a dollar or two more than an UberX, which feels fair for the experience. Other times, especially on Friday nights, the price shoots up way higher. I won’t pay a $15 premium just to avoid a human driver. It’s a fantastic treat for a special night out or an airport run, but for my regular commute, the math usually doesn’t work out in Waymo’s favor.
Developer Notes
You can tell Waymo LLC is pouring money into this. The app and the car’s brain get quiet updates all the time. One week I noticed it started handling construction zones on Van Ness Avenue much better, giving clearer audio explanations about the lane shift. They’re clearly iterating, which is good. But the slow customer service experience makes me wonder if they’ve scaled the tech faster than the human support side. For a company owned by Alphabet (Google’s parent), I expected a tighter, more responsive system.
Security & Privacy
This was a major concern for me. You’re in a car covered in cameras and sensors. The app’s privacy policy is a long read, but the gist is they collect trip data to improve the system. I’m okay with that if it makes the cars safer. Inside the cabin, there’s a notice that audio is only recorded when you press the support button. That’s fair. I do wish there was a clearer, simpler summary upfront about what data is kept and for how long, instead of burying it in a legal document. It feels secure, but not totally transparent.
What makes the ride experience in Waymo One unique?
The ride is completely quiet and driverless, with no small talk or loud radio. You can watch the steering wheel turn itself and see exactly what the car 'sees' on the backseat tablet, including pedestrians and cyclists. It feels like being in a movie, especially on a rainy evening.
How do the safety and security features work in the app?
The car only unlocks for your phone, which adds a strong layer of security when you're getting dropped off late at night. There's also a 'Pull Over' button on the tablet that lets you stop the car at the next safe curb if you need to. The automatic locking ensures no one else can enter the vehicle.
What should I do if I'm charged for a ride I canceled?
You'll need to contact Waymo support through the app, but be prepared for a slow response—it can take days to get a real person. They will likely ask for screenshots and transaction IDs, so save any confirmation emails or receipts. In our reviewer's case, it took multiple back-and-forths to get a refund.
Why does the car sometimes take too long to make a turn?
Waymo's driving is programmed to be extremely safe, so it may wait longer than a human driver for a perfect gap in traffic, especially when making left turns. This can be frustrating if you're in a hurry, like when running late to an appointment. You might want to allow extra travel time for routes with tricky intersections.
How does Waymo One compare to Uber?
Waymo offers a quieter, more private ride with no driver interaction, which many people love. However, Uber's customer support is generally faster and more reliable if you have a billing issue, and human drivers can be more aggressive in traffic when you're running late. For a premium, hassle-free experience, Waymo is great, but Uber still wins on flexibility and support responsiveness.
