Starting today, people in Denver will be able to hail a ride in a Waymo car with no human driver behind the wheel.
Rides will be offered to select riders among the “tens of thousands” of residents who have downloaded the Waymo app, and new riders will be added on a rolling basis, according to a spokesperson for Waymo.
“Dozens” of self-driving cars will serve 60 square miles of Denver, covering most — but not all — of the city. The service area stretches from the junction of U.S. 36 and Interstate 25 in the north to the University of Denver in the south, with a jagged western edge that reaches parts of Sheridan Boulevard and an eastern edge near Central Park.
The service area includes destinations like Empower Field at Mile High, Coors Field and Ball Arena, plus LoDo, Capitol Hill and Cherry Creek.
There’s no airport service yet, but a spokesperson for Denver International Airport said Waymo is in discussions with the airport to offer service there in the future. No date has been set.
Denver riders will use Waymo’s newest electric vehicle, the all-weather “Ojai,” pronounced like “oh-hi.” (Here is what one of The Sun’s reporters experienced on a recent test drive.)
The Ojai uses lidar, radar and 13 cameras to navigate, and has enhanced cleaning mechanisms designed to help it operate in snowy conditions, Mahoney said.
Fares will be comparable to other ride-hailing services, though prices will vary based on factors including time of day and demand, according to Waymo. Unlike Uber and Lyft, Waymo does not accept tips. Riders will see an estimated fare before the trip.
Denver is the 14th city where Waymo offers its driverless service. The company says it has 20 more cities planned, though it hasn’t released a schedule.