Why I Ride with Waymo: Winnie

Editor’s Note: In this “Why I Ride with Waymo” post, Winnie details how Waymo provides her newfound freedom today and how self-driving technology will give her generation even more independence in the future.

Tell us a little about yourself!

Hello, I’m Winnie. I was born in Taiwan, attended school in California, and now live and work in Chandler, Arizona as a business intelligence professional. I feel very blessed that Waymo offers self-driving technology in my neighborhood and that I have the chance to be a rider.

What do you primarily use Waymo One for?

I travel regularly to California by bus, so I use Waymo One quite often to get to and from the bus station here in Phoenix so I can leave my car at home and avoid parking costs. I also use Waymo vehicles for running errands and exploring new places.

What benefits does Waymo One offer you over other methods of transportation you use?

The biggest benefits Waymo offers are reliability, freedom, and safety. I know exactly what to expect, no surprises.

The Waymo Driver, like human drivers, has a bit of a personality. Have you noticed that?

The Waymo Driver is very cautious, it never goes over the speed limit, gets emotional, or cuts-off other drivers, and I know I will arrive at my destination safely and on time. I would also say it’s an excellent communicator. It seems to calculate the best route in real-time and provides pretty accurate estimated travel times, so I can enjoy my freedom to listen to my music, talk on the phone, and look out the window.

What do you think the potential is for self-driving cars, both in your life and more broadly?

Waymo One allows passengers to share experiences with friends and families, and it’s a great investment for our future. When my generation retires in 30 years, we will be the first generation that doesn’t depend on our children and grandchildren to drive us around. We will have our freedom as seniors in our golden age. We missed the first three Industrial Revolutions, but we won’t miss this one.

If you could give anyone in history a ride in a Waymo, who would it be and why?

I would invite Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company. If he knew about self-driving vehicles in his day, perhaps he might’ve changed the way we develop vehicles from the start!