[AutonomousVehicles] A Waymo Service Experience

Wed Apr 1 18:45:51 UTC 2026

Good afternoon Corn and everyone,

                Please find below information concerning an actual account of the use of Waymo from a blind Texan. I’m sure there are NFB Members that have used Waymo, Tesla, or Zoox. Let’s hear about your experiences. Enjoy and learn:

From: Pat Pound <patpound10 at gmail.com> 
Sent: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 10:47 AM
To: pmdonahue2 at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [ACBT] Waymo San Antonio Service Expansion

I have taken Waymo in Austin twice. In Austin, they make you use the Uber app instead of the Waymo app. There are more Accessibility options and it’s a better experience – learned from other Blind folks – when you get to use the Uber app. Some of the things you can do is you can turn on a setting that has you tell has the car tell you when it turns on a new street what street it’s on. This helps to know if you’re getting dropped off across the street from where you were desiring to get dropped off. That happened twice to me. The major things I think could be issues are Clinton’s of the cars related to Service Dogs for example when I rode a friend with a dog rode with me. I got in first and the dog tried to jump for something that was on the floor below my feet. I was able to block the dog from getting it and indeed it was candy. So we all are gonna have to be more careful about that. I plan to take a small bath pad and put it down where my dogs front part and head would be. I felt safe during the ride, there is a way to call for a person to talk to. I have not gotten an answer from Waymo as to who requires the use of the Uber app in Austin. It appears that Waymo says Texas in Texas is WeMo. I also know that Robotaxi is starting in Austin and I’m not in the test area yet but I’m going to try it out. The first ride I do by myself I always go from a place that I know exactly what it’s like in the area to a place where I know exactly what it’s like in the area. I also try not to go on any big highways. Hope this helps.

Peter Donahue

On Mar 31, 2026, at 7:59 PM, Peter Donahue via groups.io <pmdonahue2=gmail.com at groups.io <mailto:pmdonahue2=gmail.com at groups.io> > wrote:

Good evening everyone,

                Before I comment on the information below we’re curious to know if anyone here has experienced autonomous rideshare now available in 4 Texas Cities Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Iknow Taylor has used Waymo in Austin but was curious to know if anyone else has experienced autonomous rideshare now that it is available in parts of Texas. Below is information concerning Waymo’s recent expansion in San Antonio. We understand that the San Antonio International Airportis currently the only Texas Airport being served by Waymo.Wewere excited to also learn that Waymo now serves the 78208 zipcode where the Education Service Center is located. My wife Mary is one of two blind proofreaders that work in their Braille department.

                The information below also indicates that Waymo will begin serving our part of town the Stone Oak Area this summer. I told Mary that unless it happens before then we’ll plan on Taking Waymo to the June Meeting of the Alamo Council of the Blind our ACB Chapter. For me this will be the culmination and confirmation that the crazy ideas I had as a child including being disciplined for believing that a blind person might one day be able to operate a car and perhaps in the not-to-distant future fly in an autonomous airtaxi somethingis being developed in San Antonio.Those idiots will be eating lots of crow when this fantasy becomes real in a few months.

                Meanwhile thoughts concerning your experiences with autonomous rideshare around the state will be very much appreciated. Now for the last Waymo in San Antonio update:

Subject: Expansion of Fully Autonomous Service in San Antonio, Texas

Hello,

We are thrilled to share the latest updates regarding Waymo’s expansion in the Alamo City. Our mission is to be the world’s most trusted driver, and we are excited to bring the safety and convenience of the Waymo Driver to more San Antonians. Below are the details regarding our recent service updates and answers to your specific questions.

1. How is Waymo operating at the San Antonio International Airport?

As of March 31, 2026, Waymo has officially launched self-driving taxi service at San Antonio International Airport (SAT). Riders can now enjoy seamless, driverless trips to and from the airport.

1.      Pick-up/Drop-off: We have coordinated with airport officials to establish designated zones. You can catch a robotaxi directly from the curb or within the specific rideshare zones identified in the Waymo app.

2. Will Waymo serve Fixed-Base Operators (FBOs) in the airport area?

Yes. Our expanded service area around the San Antonio International Airport is designed to be comprehensive. This includes coverage for Fixed-Base Operators (FBOs) such as Signature Aviation and Atlantic Aviation, which serve private and general aviation. When you set your destination in the Waymo app, simply select the specific FBO terminal, and the Waymo Driver will navigate to the designated passenger loading area for that facility.

3. What other areas of San Antonio are now being served by Waymo?

Following our initial "soft launch" and employee testing, we have significantly expanded our footprint. Our current service area covers approximately 60 square miles, centered around the city’s high-traffic corridors:

1.      Downtown & Central: Comprehensive coverage of the Downtown area, including the River Walk, Pearl District, and Southtown.

2.      The Loop: Major portions of the area within the I-410 loop.

3.      North Central: Expansion along the US-281 and I-10 corridors to reach residential and business hubs.

4. Zip Code Availability

We are actively rolling out service across the city. Here is the current status for the zip codes you mentioned:

1.      78208 (Government Hill/Fort Sam Houston): YES. This area is currently served. Your wife can use Waymo for trips to and from the Education Service Center Region 20.

2.      78209 (Alamo Heights/Terrell Hills): YES. This area is fully integrated into our current service map.

3.      78217 (Near Airport/Oakwell Farms): YES. This area is served as part of our airport-adjacent expansion.

4.      78207 (West Side): PARTIAL. We currently serve the eastern portions of this zip code near downtown, with plans to expand further west soon.

5.      78258 & 78259 (Stone Oak/North Central): COMING SOON. While these areas are currently being mapped and tested, they are not yet open for public hailing.

5. When will Waymo reach the 78258 (Stone Oak) area?

We understand the excitement for service in the Stone Oak area and the major attractions on the North Side. Our mapping vehicles are currently active in the 78258 and 78259 zip codes.

1.      Timeline: We are targeting Summer 2026 to open public service in the Stone Oak area. This expansion will aim to include the major points of interest you mentioned, such as SeaWorld, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, the Hyatt Hill Country Resort, and the JW Marriott Resort (TPC San Antonio).

2.      Recommendation: Since you live in 78258, we highly recommend that both you and Mary download the Waymo app and join the waitlist. We frequently invite residents in upcoming expansion zones to participate in early-access trials before the "high season" begins.

We look forward to providing Mary with a reliable new commuting option and helping you navigate San Antonio safely. Thank you for your interest in the future of mobility!

The Waymo Team www.waymo.com <http://www.waymo.com> 

Peter Donahue

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