Waymo is set to launch fully autonomous driving services in Denver, transitioning from vehicles with human supervisors that have been operating since September. Initially, driverless services will be available for Waymo employees in select neighborhoods, including Five Points and Cherry Creek. The self-driving vehicles, labeled 'Ojai', feature distinctive design elements like double sliding doors and advanced sensors. Concerns about safety have arisen, as Waymo recalls thousands of its robotaxis due to incidents involving construction sites and blocking emergency vehicles. Despite safety concerns, the city's Department of Transportation supports Waymo's operation as part of efforts to enhance transportation options and improve air quality. Current regulations permit Waymo to operate if they adhere to traffic laws.

In this stock photo, a Waymo Ojai vehicle appears to transport happy passengers into The Matrix.

Courtesy of Waymo

Waymo’s futuristic vans have been roaming Denver’s streets since September— with human supervisors to help the autonomous driving system get around the city.

Not for long, though. The vehicles will transition to “fully autonomous driving” in Denver and several other cities in the coming weeks, the company announced.

The company’s Ojai vehicles will initially offer driverless service to Waymo employees around areas like Five Points, Baker, Cherry Creek and something it called the “Arts District,” although it wasn’t clear if that meant Santa Fe.

widgets.cpr.org

widgets.cpr.org is blocked

This page has been blocked by an extension

Try disabling your extensions.

ERR_BLOCKED_BY_CLIENT

Reload

This page has been blocked by an extension

The Ojai will be easy to spot with double sliding doors, big sensors, and nobody in the driver seat. Waymo says its latest model has features like sensor-cleaning widgets to help it deal with snow.

The company recalled thousands of its robotaxis after more than a dozen instances when they entered highway construction sites and cases where they blocked an ambulance responding to a shooting, drove through a police scene, and illegally passed school buses, among others.

The company claims that its vehicles are involved with far fewer crashes that result in injuries and airbag deployments, compared to those with human drivers.

Besides safety concerns, the arrival of self-driving cars has stirred visceral fear and anger here and elsewhere. Ride-share and taxi drivers see an obvious effort to replace them and their livelihoods with machines, while others see just another pointless expansion of the venture-backed technocracy.

Cities like Denver have only limited options to regulate companies like Waymo.

“As Colorado law reads, if Waymo can follow all the traffic laws, it can operate in our state,” said Nancy Kuhn, a spokesperson for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, in an earlier statement. “All vehicles must follow road and curbside rules (posted and non-posted).”

The city has not received any reports from Waymo about its operations in Denver so far, and DOTI is not aware of any crashes involving the vehicles, Kuhn added on Wednesday.

"DOTI is supportive of Waymo’s arrival, as it furthers our goals of providing transportation choices, improving air quality through electric and alternative vehicle use, and encouraging conscientious, aware, non-distracted driving to improve safety for all," she wrote.

Want to share your experience with Waymo in Denver? Drop a line.

Andrew Kenney

Andrew Kenney became the supervising editor of Denverite in 2024. He covered state politics for Colorado Public Radio as a reporter from 2019 to 2024, and previously was a reporter at The Denver Post, Denverite and The (Raleigh) News & Observer.

Contact:

Email: akenney@denverite.com

Bluesky: @andyknny.bluesky.social

X: @andyknny

Email Andrew Kenney

Waymo will go autonomous in Denver later this month

Share

widgets.cpr.org is blocked

Recent Stories

Melat Kiros say she’s ready for her ‘coalition-building mission’

Denver cyclists get wheel dirty with DIY street-sweeping plan

A pro-Israel doctor plans to challenge Melat Kiros as an independent. But first, he has to make the ballot

Electricity is out at a Denver hotel homeless shelter

Conservative law firm sues Denver Public Schools over its school board voting map

‘Organized people beats organized money’: What’s next for Denver’s democratic socialists?

A 1-mile stretch of Santa Fe Drive will close for a big bike-ped project this weekend