CHICAGO — Waymo is hitting Chicago’s roads — but its self-driving cars will have workers behind the wheel for now.
The company has started testing its controversial autonomous vehicles in Chicago with manual drivers for “mapping and early data collection,” Waymo spokesperson Chris Bonelli said in a statement Wednesday.
Block Club spotted a dozen Waymo cars in a Downtown parking garage Tuesday afternoon as a worker checked the software. Bonelli would only say a “limited fleet” will start mapping roads Wednesday east of I-90 from the South Loop to Wrigleyville.
The company, owned by Google parent Alphabet Inc., has recently brought on employees and lobbyists in the city. They will need changes to Illinois state driving code allowing for autonomous vehicles before welcoming Chicagoans inside for a ride. The test drives come as the debate in Springfield heats up.
State Rep. Kam Buckner introduced a bill last month that would give large counties, including Cook, the ability to create a three-year pilot program for a limited number of autonomous cars as a test run of their “demonstrated safety and operational readiness.” That would pave the way for the Illinois Department of Transpiration to legalize autonomous cars statewide after the pilot.
“By embracing autonomous innovation, we are ensuring Illinois remains the premier hub for 21st-century growth,” Buckner said in a statement released by Waymo.
A spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office said in a statement the city was notified Waymo is operating to “map streets formations, record geographical data, and better understand driving conditions” — but the company would not be allowed to test self-driving cars.
“There is no law or regulatory framework which prohibits any licensed individual from driving in Chicago,” the spokesperson said. “The city looks forward to engaging with commuters, workers, transit advocates and industry leaders as we pursue constructive dialogue with our partners in Springfield and pursue an equitable path forward.”
Waymo has already launched in 10 U.S. cities — including in California, Texas and Florida — and is now laying the groundwork for a major expansion in cities across the Midwest and East Coast. This month, Waymo started testing cars with drivers in St. Louis under a similar rollout strategy as it looks to clear state legal hurdles.
In Chicago, the push has drawn early criticism from organized labor groups, according to the Tribune. Josh Witkowski, lobbyist for ABATE Illinois, a motorcyclist rights organization, said the cars can be dangerous to “vulnerable road users,” from pedestrians to motorcyclists.
The organization is supporting a counter bill by State Sen. Patrick Joyce that would create a state-run review committee, a permitting process and data reporting requirements for the autonomous cars.
“It’s disappointing to see Waymo moving forward in an attempt to pressure Illinois lawmakers,” Witkowski said. “There is great potential for this technology to be life-saving. but only if it’s pursued in a way that puts people over profits, and that’s not what Waymo is currently doing.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a probe into Waymo last year after reports its autonomous cars were not stopping around school buses, leading the company to recall software. In October, a Waymo car struck and killed a beloved bodega cat in San Francisco, and two months later temporary suspended service in the city after its cars came to halt in traffic during a major power outage.
The autonomous cars have been subject to vandalism as people question the technology’s impact on the job market and an expanding surveillance apparatus.
Bonelli said Waymo cars are safer than vehicles driven by humans.
“Waymo uses cameras and sensors to understand its surroundings and drive safely in real time,” Bonelli said. “Data is only shared under absolutely necessary circumstances. Waymo does not provide information or data to law enforcement without a valid legal request.”
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