Just a day after getting green light to expand autonomous ops
A day after General Motors was given the green light to accelerate the roll out of its self-driving Cruise taxis in a US state, a congregation of the robo-rides broke down – holding up traffic on a busy night – after reportedly losing wireless connectivity.
Rewind to Thursday, and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted to expand the hours of operation for GM Cruise and Waymo robotaxis in San Francisco, despite opposition from police, fire fighters, and other city agencies.
Previously Cruise was allowed to operate completely computer-controlled taxi rides with no human safety driver present in certain parts of San Francisco from 10pm to 6am; and robo-taxi rides anywhere in SF at any time if a driver was present. Now it can run AI taxis without a safety driver present at any time of day.
Waymo, meanwhile, could charge for robo-rides at any time of the day in the city if a safety driver was present. Now Waymo can provide automated rides at any time even if a driver isn’t present.
Three out of four participating commissioners supported the resolution, one of whom, John Reynolds, served as managing counsel for GM Cruise from 2019 until 2022. A fifth commissioner did not attend the hearing.
The Register asked the CPUC why Reynolds did not recuse himself from the vote, a conflict-of-interest acknowledgement sought by San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin last month.
“Commissioner Reynolds is permitted to vote on the items,” said CPUC spokesperson Terrie Prosper in an emailed statement. “He has no financial interest in Cruise or any other AV company.” AV being autonomous vehicle.
The following day, Friday, approximately 10 Cruise robotaxis stopped moving in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, a consequence of crowds at the Outside Lands music festival overloading cell networks, according to The San Francisco Chronicle.
The snafu held up traffic on the Grant Avenue corridor of bars, restaurants, and strip joints near Columbus Avenue.
