Welcoming our first riders in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa

Get ready to buckle up, sit back, and relax. It’s time to ride! Today, we’ll begin welcoming our first public riders in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa, marking 14 cities where we’re providing riders fully autonomous trips.

Tens of thousands in each city have already signed up and expressed interest in riding with us. We'll steadily offer more and more riders Waymo access in these cities, as we work toward opening our service to everyone.

“From coast to coast, we’re focused on making everyday transportation safer, easier, and more accessible,” said Suzanne Philion, Chief Marketing Officer at Waymo. “Launching public rides in San Diego, Tampa, and in my home state of Colorado brings our newest vehicle platform and next-generation driver to more riders who are ready to experience the future of mobility.”

From day one, we’ve designed our service areas to cover the places you actually need to go and want to go. This makes it easy for folks who call these cities home to navigate daily tasks—whether it's running errands, heading back after a late shift, or just catching a safe ride home. Over time, across all of our cities, we plan to gradually expand our presence, bringing you even further and connecting you to more of your favorite destinations.

"Colorado is leading the country in clean energy and innovation, and Waymo’s launch helps us achieve cleaner air sooner,” said Governor of Colorado Jared Polis. “This significant investment expands clean mobility choices for Coloradans. We are proud to support forward-thinking solutions that lead to economic growth and build a safer, cleaner transportation future across our state."

“Tampa’s innovative spirit continues to draw companies that are on the forefront of technology to our city,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. “Waymo’s launch in Tampa provides another effective – and exciting – way to get around, helping us in our goal to strengthen our transportation network and provide options for every preference or need.”

"We at AARP know it's so important to have as many different transportation options as possible,” shared Laura Streed, Director of Outreach and Engagement at AARP Florida. “Waymo will be another great option for older adults, especially those that don't want to drive anymore and are looking for another way to get out of their house and in their community."

“As someone who is blind, I usually get very anxious when using rideshare because of the unpredictability,” said Julia Cardenas, President National Federation of the Blind, San Diego Chapter. “I never know if I'll get a driver who will turn away my dog, which is stressful and frustrating. Being able to experience Waymo and having the freedom to get into a car without a driver and knowing my dog can ride without any issues is a truly great feeling.”

Preparing for you

While we're opening to riders today, we've been busy preparing for months. Since arriving in these cities, we’ve been validating the Waymo Driver’s performance on local streets. This careful preparation builds on our proven safety record demonstrating the Waymo Driver is involved in 94% fewer serious injury or worse crashes compared to human drivers of the same time.

We've also focused on getting to know the community. That includes working closely with local first responders so they can get to know our teams and learn how to interact with our technology, supporting our shared goal of keeping roads safe. We also stay in regular communication with local officials to keep them updated on our progress. Most importantly, we partner closely with community groups to understand the diverse community needs and how we can best support them, helping us build a service that works for everyone.

Now, the destination, the journey, and the experience are entirely up to you. If you haven’t already, download the Waymo app and sign up to ride. Keep an eye on your email and notifications, we’ll let you know as soon as it's your turn as we work quickly to open our service to everyone.