Sonali Tiwary
New York City has allowed Waymo to begin testing self-driving cars on its streets for the first time, though with stringent constraints showing both optimism and wariness about this emerging technology.
Last Friday, NYC’s Department of Transportation approved Waymo’s application, permitting the Alphabet-owned company to run as many as eight self-driving vehicles in select areas of Manhattan below Central Park and within portions of Downtown Brooklyn. This trial will continue until late September 2025, with the possibility of being extended further.
The approval includes substantial restrictions. A qualified safety specialist must remain in the driver’s seat continuously and ready to assume control when necessary. According to current NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission regulations, these vehicles aren’t permitted to transport passengers as part of a ride service.
“We’re a tech-friendly administration and we’re always looking for innovative ways to safely move our city forward,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement. “New York City is proud to welcome Waymo to test this new technology in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as we know this testing is only the first step in moving our city further into the 21st century.”
The trial follows last year’s introduction of safety protocols for autonomous vehicle testing by the Adams administration. The Mayor’s office explained that Waymo will need to collaborate regularly with the DOT, provide operational data, and coordinate with emergency responders and police departments. Additionally, the company needs to verify its adherence to cybersecurity standards.
Waymo has been growing its footprint across America, operating in cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin, while planning to launch in Atlanta in early 2025, with Miami and Washington D.C. slated for 2026. Company representatives announced reaching the milestone of 10 million robotaxi journeys in May 2025, having laid groundwork for its NYC operations since 2021 through manual driving exercises and information gathering.
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“This is about the finance side of big tech and political favoritism coming together to create advantages for this multi-billionaire corporation at the expense of workers,” said Bhairavi Desai, President of the Taxi Workers Alliance. “We’re not ready as a society, as a city we don’t have a plan to address the impact on workers, consumers, or the environment.”
State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal is pushing for legislation that would mandate specific TLC regulations for self-driving taxis and require special licensing for their operation. He told Gothamist that his aim is reducing Manhattan traffic rather than adding more vehicles, emphasizing that public transportation, not private autonomous vehicles, represents the future.
Safety advocates offer contrasting viewpoints. Paige Carbone from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) New York highlighted the potential for autonomous vehicles to prevent injuries and deaths from impaired driving when implemented responsibly.
Waymo’s Annabel Chang pointed to the company’s experience, noting: “With over 10 million rides completed in five major U.S. cities and a strong safety record, we’re proud to be working with leaders to lay the groundwork to bring this lifesaving technology to New Yorkers one day.”
Competition in the autonomous vehicle sector is intensifying nationwide, with Tesla also launching limited robotaxi operations in Austin, Texas, planning to expand to cover half the U.S. population before 2025 ends.
For the time being, New York residents cannot summon driverless ride services. Implementing passenger service in the future would necessitate amendments to TLC regulations and additional permits—indicating NYC’s cautious stance toward this revolutionary technology.
