The public is enthusiastic about the expanded use of autonomous vehicles (AVs), according to a recent Arizona State University study.
The report is the result of a six-month pilot program conducted by Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority of Greater Phoenix in partnership with autonomous-driving technology company Waymo between September 2019 and March 2020. Participants were older and disabled residents in the Phoenix metro area. After the program ended, most said AV services are safe and convenient and even preferable to traditional taxis or ride-share options.
“This pilot study is unique in that it was the first one to deploy a true AV-based mobility-on-demand service for members of the public to use for their regular daily trips,” Ram Pendyala, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the Fulton Schools and director of the Center for Teaching Old Models New Tricks, a multi-university research consortium sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, said. “Participants could summon rides with a smartphone app, just like they would for Uber or Lyft, and take Waymo AV rides to work, shopping, dining and more.”
The program operated in a 100-square-mile area encompassing parts of Chandler, Mesa and Tempe. Participants were at least 65 years old or were registered users of Valley Metro’s RideChoice program, a subsidized taxi or ride-hailing service for paratransit-certified people.