San Francisco Robotaxi Experience Draws Praise Amidst Evolving Autonomous Vehicle Landscape

San Francisco, California – A recent social media post by user "StripMallGuy" has highlighted the increasingly mainstream nature of driverless car services in the city, describing a family's inaugural experience as "awesome" despite initial nerves and some unexpected moments. The tweet, posted on August 29, 2025, detailed their first ride in an autonomous vehicle, noting, > "Our family had its first driverless car experience yesterday in San Francisco - and it was awesome. We were all a bit nervous, there were a couple surprises, but here's the quick play-by-play."

The positive account comes as autonomous vehicle (AV) companies continue to expand their commercial operations in major U.S. cities. Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., has been a prominent player in San Francisco, having opened its commercial robotaxi service to the public in June 2024. The company reported providing over 250,000 paid rides weekly across its operating areas, which include San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin, and Silicon Valley, as of June 2025.

While user experiences like this tweet suggest growing public acceptance, the autonomous vehicle industry in San Francisco remains under close scrutiny. Waymo has faced regulatory attention, including a recall of 1,212 vehicles in May 2025 due to a software glitch that could cause collisions with roadway barriers. Additionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated an investigation in May 2024 into 31 incidents involving Waymo vehicles, ranging from driving on the wrong side of the road to minor collisions.

Another major player, Cruise, formerly backed by General Motors, has significantly scaled back its robotaxi ambitions in San Francisco. Following a series of high-profile incidents in late 2023, including a pedestrian being dragged and a collision with a fire truck, the California Department of Motor Vehicles suspended Cruise's permits. In February 2025, General Motors took full control of Cruise, shifting its focus from robotaxi services to integrating autonomous technology into personal vehicles, leading to a 50% staff reduction at Cruise.

Despite these challenges and the ongoing regulatory landscape, the "StripMallGuy" tweet underscores the consumer appeal of driverless technology. Companies like Waymo continue to refine their systems and expand their reach, with Amazon-owned Zoox also testing its purpose-built autonomous vehicles in San Francisco, aiming for commercial services in 2026. The evolution of driverless cars promises continued advancements and public debate as the technology integrates further into urban transportation.