When Atlanta resident Nate Galesic tried to book an autonomous ride through Uber this summer, the process wasn’t seamless. Despite choosing the option for a self-driving vehicle, the app repeatedly paired him with human drivers. After an hour of declining trips, he finally secured a Waymo car.
This persistence highlights the current reality of Uber’s pilot project with Waymo, which launched in June. While the feature adds Atlanta to the growing list of U.S. cities testing robotaxis, the limited availability means riders must often work around the system to catch one.
For Galesic, that challenge has become part of the fun. On average, he says he rejects around 20 human-driven rides before the app assigns him a Waymo.
Early Adopters Eager for Robotaxis
Despite the effort involved, some Atlanta residents are embracing the opportunity. Galesic estimates he has taken more than 30 trips in Waymo vehicles since the feature became available, repeating the same trial-and-error method each time.
His motivation is partly professional convenience. Working in television and film production often leaves him exhausted after long shoots. Having the option to ride home in a car that doesn’t require his attention—or the small talk of a human driver—is a welcome alternative.
Beyond comfort, Galesic points to data showing autonomous vehicles, including those powered by Waymo’s technology, are statistically less likely to cause accidents resulting in injury compared to human-driven cars. For him, the benefits outweigh the hassle of securing a ride.
Uber Broadens Its Self-Driving Footprint
The Atlanta program reflects Uber’s broader push to integrate autonomous vehicles into its ride-hailing platform, keeping pace with competitors like Tesla and Lyft that are also pursuing driverless strategies.
Currently, the service is limited to a 65-square-mile area of the city. Riders can boost their odds of getting paired with a Waymo by choosing routes that avoid highways, booking outside peak hours, and ensuring both pickup and drop-off points fall within the designated zone. Uber also allows riders to indicate a preference for Waymo vehicles in its app settings.
According to Waymo, the decision to collaborate with Uber in Atlanta—rather than launch its own app in the market—was aimed at reaching more users more quickly.
Overcoming Boundaries
For some Atlantans, the limitations require creative workarounds. Resident Andrew Nerney, for example, has taken several trips in Waymo cars since June. But because his home lies just outside the designated service area, he has to walk a few blocks to reach a valid pickup location.
Like Galesic, Nerney has also had to cancel multiple human-driver assignments before landing an autonomous ride. It’s a process that requires persistence, but for those curious about the technology, it’s worth the effort.
Public Hesitation Remains
Not all potential riders are as enthusiastic. National surveys suggest many Americans remain wary of autonomous technology.
Frank McCleary, a partner at consulting firm Arthur D. Little’s automotive practice, explained that high-profile accidents involving driverless vehicles have contributed to public caution. The firm’s 2023 study found U.S. respondents were, by a 17-point margin, more likely to reject using fully or semi-autonomous cars.
Interestingly, the same survey revealed that residents of large metropolitan areas—those with populations over one million—were far more open to trying self-driving rides. This aligns with where most ride-hailing and autonomous car companies, including Uber and Waymo, are focusing their pilot programs.
Galesic believes hesitation toward self-driving cars is natural but temporary. He compares it to the slow adoption curve of smartphones after Apple introduced the iPhone in 2007. It took years before the technology became a daily necessity for millions.
Similarly, he expects autonomous vehicles will require patience and gradual trust-building before they become mainstream. Until then, enthusiasts like him are willing to tolerate the extra steps required to ride in a robotaxi.
