[Colorado-Talk] When will Waymo come to Colorado?

Fri Aug 8 17:26:15 UTC 2025

Hi Dan
It was a bit disconcerting to see this empty wheelchair wandering around
the airport.   Now I have an image of an empty wheelchair chasing down some
blind person who just wants to walk to his or her gate in peace.    Then my
mind went to a whole cartoon series with the guide dog fighting the overly
aggressive wheelchair!  I have to get back to work before I can let my mind
go to who won the fight but my money is on the guide dog.

With Gratitude,

Julie Reiskin
Co-Executive Director
Email Address: jreiskin at ccdconline.org
Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition
1385 S. Colorado Blvd. Bldg. A., Suite 610
Denver, CO 80222
Organizational phone: 303-839-1775 | Direct Phone: 303-667-4216

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On Thu, Aug 7, 2025 at 10:01 AM Dan Burke <burke.dall at gmail.com> wrote:

> Julie - I'm trying to get my head around the idea of a driverless
> wheelchair! I mean, if someone at the desk orders a wheelchair for a blind
> person (as they often do and often without even asking the blind person),
> will the driverless wheelchair still chase us down the concourse after we
> decline it?
>
> Seriously, though, that is an application for this technology I hadn't
> considered before.
>
> On Thu, Aug 7, 2025 at 8:17 AM Erin Daley via Colorado-Talk <
> colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
>> Being able to ride the Waymo vehicles in San Francisco was absolutely
>> amazing and I have to say I was extremely impressed with how it handled the
>> heavy pedestrian traffic. There is going to be risk with every technology,
>> but I feel the reward is so much greater. As with most technologies, this
>> one was not created for blind people, but for everyone in general. I know
>> them not being able to work in snowy conditions is an absolute issue right
>> now, but if they can figure out an unmanned probe to send to Mara and map
>> the planet, I think they’re going to figure out snow in Colorado!!! I do
>> think they will be everywhere in years to come, but it will still be a
>> little bit more time before I can go on my epic United States road trip
>> with one!!! As long as safety is the first feature, I would love to try it,
>> but I will let Kevan Whorley in the door first just in case there are any
>> kinks that need to be worked out!!! Looking forward to hearing more about
>> this especially as we go to Austin for national convention in 2026. I fully
>> intend to use the WeMo as much as possible while I am there.
>>
>>
>> Erin Daley
>>
>> On Aug 6, 2025, at 12:00 PM, Julie Reiskin via Colorado-Talk <
>> colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> 
>> In some airports I am now seeing self driving wheelchairs roaming around
>> the place.  I saw it in Istanbul last year and recently saw it in Detroit.
>>
>> With Gratitude,
>>
>> Julie Reiskin
>> Co-Executive Director
>> Email Address: jreiskin at ccdconline.org
>> Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition
>> 1385 S. Colorado Blvd. Bldg. A., Suite 610
>> Denver, CO 80222
>> Organizational phone: 303-839-1775 | Direct Phone: 303-667-4216
>>
>> *Looking for ways to support our mission? Follow these links:*
>> *Join our membership for free
>> <https://ccdconline.org/take-action/membership/> | Online giving
>> <https://my.onecause.com/fundraiser/organizations/c145fc43-48fd-48a2-9e3d-8b4abded3648/fundraisers/fundraiser:272931ee-15ae-46c2-8d75-35d3ee0157bf> | Other
>> ways to support <http://www.ccdconline.org/donate/other-ways-to-give/>*
>>
>> *CCDC is headquartered in Denver*; we acknowledge that Denver is on the
>> occupied land of the Ute, Arapaho, and Cheyenne people
>>
>> *Nothing about us without us - ever!*
>> <https://ccdconline.org/>
>> ... <https://www.facebook.com/CCDC.CO>
>> *Click the logos above or the text here to connect with us
>> at ccdconline.org <https://ccdconline.org/>, Facebook
>> <https://www.facebook.com/CCDC.CO>, or follow me on LinkedIn
>> <http://www.linkedin.com/comm/mynetwork/discovery-see-all?usecase=PEOPLE_FOLLOWS&followMember=juliereiskin>*
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 6, 2025 at 11:56 AM Paul Sandoval via Colorado-Talk <
>> colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi all!
>>>
>>> I actually believe they will be everywhere in large cities in a few
>>> years. If you’ve been to San Francisco, they are common. Yes there are
>>> challenges with this type of tech, but it is working well where it is
>>> working. I understand there is a challenge in colder environments as they
>>> have not found a way to address lane recognition when roads are snow
>>> covered.
>>>
>>> These devices have glitched in the past, but I’ve ridden with some
>>> drivers that have also been pretty glitchy. Obviously I’m not speaking of
>>> my wife 😝
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I love the debate!
>>>
>>> *From:* Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> *On Behalf Of *kevan
>>> nfbco.org via Colorado-Talk
>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, August 6, 2025 11:43 AM
>>> *To:* Dan Burke <burke.dall at gmail.com>
>>> *Cc:* kevan nfbco.org <kevan at nfbco.org>; colorado-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> *Subject:* Re: [Colorado-Talk] When will Waymo come to Colorado?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The only one I really heard over the past decades say that they would be
>>> everywhere in 10 to 15 years was the self promoting Elon Musk. And we will
>>> see what happens. But I really do believe we are at a place now where
>>> artificial intelligence combined with robotics will change the world as we
>>> know it More significantly then we can now even imagine. What this will do
>>> to people who are blind and low vision, life, quality, and access and
>>> education and jobs we can only speculate?
>>>
>>> At Your Service,
>>>
>>> Kevan Worley
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Aug 6, 2025, at 11:38 AM, Dan Burke <burke.dall at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> 
>>>
>>> They'll be everywhere in five years. They've been saying this for 15
>>> years, so eventually it will become true!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Skepticism: I will remain somewhat as skeptical about driverless cars as
>>> I am about many of the drivers I've ridden with.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> They still say that flying is the safest means of travel, but I just
>>> haven't been able to develop the necessary arm strength.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Aug 6, 2025 at 8:59 AM kevan nfbco.org via Colorado-Talk <
>>> colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Curtis, of course, you are. Being a skeptic is one of your more
>>> endearing qualities. 😊  In 5 years they will be everywhere.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> At your service,
>>>
>>> Kevan Worley
>>>
>>> 303-929-2369
>>>
>>> Manager Project Literacy, National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
>>>
>>> The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and
>>> friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every
>>> day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>>>
>>> Colorado Center for the Blind believes when you believe in yourself and
>>> experience a thriving community of positive blind people, nothing can hold
>>> you back from pursuing your dreams.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *From:* Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> *On Behalf Of *Curtis
>>> Chong via Colorado-Talk
>>> *Sent:* Tuesday, August 5, 2025 1:44 PM
>>> *To:* 'NFB of Colorado Discussion List' <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> *Cc:* Curtis Chong <chong.curtis at gmail.com>
>>> *Subject:* [Colorado-Talk] When will Waymo come to Colorado?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Greetings:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> There is a video which is actually found on YouTube. Here is a direct
>>> link which will start the playback immediately.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-NUtK6OZao
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> While many folks are excited about autonomous vehicles, I myself plan to
>>> maintain a certain amount of skepticism with respect to self-driving
>>> cars--at least for the next few years😊.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Happy listening and viewing.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Kind wishes,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Curtis Chong
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *From:* Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> *On Behalf Of *Kevan
>>> Worley via Colorado-Talk
>>> *Sent:* Tuesday, August 5, 2025 11:32 AM
>>> *To:* colorado-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> *Cc:* Kevan Worley <kevanworley at worleyenterprises.com>
>>> *Subject:* [Colorado-Talk] When will Waymo come to Colorado?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Good day, all! I just received this article from the Waymo website from
>>> our good friend, Hugh Carey at CSDB. The article features the President of
>>> the National Federation of the Blind, Mark Riccobono, and one of our
>>> department executive directors, brother Anil Lewis. Read it here. Maybe we
>>> should lobby officials across the Front Range to bring Waymo. That would be
>>> the end of our dog denials.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> https://waymo.com/community/articles/national-federation-of-the-blind/.
>>> <https://waymo.com/community/articles/national-federation-of-the-blind/>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> At your service,
>>>
>>> Kevan Worley
>>>
>>> 303-929-2369
>>>
>>> Manager Project Literacy, National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
>>>
>>> The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and
>>> friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every
>>> day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>>>
>>> Colorado Center for the Blind believes when you believe in yourself and
>>> experience a thriving community of positive blind people, nothing can hold
>>> you back from pursuing your dreams.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Dan Burke
>>>
>>> National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Legislative Co-chair
>>>
>>> "Blindness is not what holds you back.  You can live the life you want!"
>>>
>>> My Cell:  406.546.8546
>>>
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>>
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>
>
> --
> Dan Burke
>
> National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Legislative Co-chair
>
> "Blindness is not what holds you back.  You can live the life you want!"
>
> My Cell:  406.546.8546
>
>

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