San Francisco has launched an autonomous shuttle service, following closely on the heels of California regulators approving the expansion of robotaxis, despite concerns about traffic and safety.
The new, free shuttle service, dubbed the Loop, will operate on a fixed route around Treasure Island, a former U.S. Navy base located in the middle of San Francisco Bay. The Loop, which makes seven stops, is aimed at connecting the island’s residential neighborhoods with stores and community centers.
The all-electric vehicle, though devoid of a driver’s seat or steering wheel, will have an attendant on board who can control the vehicle with a handheld device if required. The city is offering this shuttle service as a part of a pilot program, funded by a grant, to explore how autonomous vehicles could augment the public transit system.
San Francisco joins a growing list of cities worldwide testing the safety and potential of self-driving vehicles to reshape public transportation.
The shuttles are operated by Beep, a Florida-based company that has conducted similar pilot programs in over a dozen U.S. communities. The firm’s project manager, Shelley Caran, stressed that these shuttles are built for short connectivity routes and are not intended to replace a bus system.
Following the launch of the autonomous shuttle pilot program, the California Public Utilities Commission approved robotaxi services offered by companies Cruise and Waymo in San Francisco. Despite concerns raised over their impact on traffic and emergency services, experts are not anticipating similar issues with driverless buses, as they are expected to have drivers or attendants onboard for the foreseeable future.
While autonomous driving technology can potentially make buses safer, having drivers or attendants onboard could undermine one of the perceived advantages of this technology: reduced labor costs.