Remember when San Franciscans were waging a war against autonomous vehicles by placing traffic cones on their hoods? Fast forward two years, and the city’s relationship with robotaxis, particularly Waymo, has dramatically transformed.

A recent poll by tech-backed political group GrowSF reveals a stunning shift in public sentiment. Two-thirds of San Francisco voters now support fully autonomous vehicles, a significant jump from less than half just two years ago.

The change isn’t just about numbers. Residents are experiencing firsthand how these self-driving cars are revolutionizing urban transportation. Waymo’s data is compelling: over six years and 56 million miles traveled, their vehicles experienced 82% fewer bike and motorcycle crashes, and 92% fewer pedestrian incidents compared to human drivers.

Parents are now using robotaxis as convenient chauffeurs for their kids, and some tech-savvy residents have nearly abandoned traditional ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft. The autonomous vehicle ecosystem is rapidly expanding, with Tesla and Amazon-owned Zoox also entering the market.

Experts like Billy Riggs from the University of San Francisco note that once people experience sophisticated autonomous technology, adoption happens quickly. The comfort factor sets in after the first ride, challenging initial skepticism.

As San Francisco continues to be a testing ground for cutting-edge transportation technologies, the city’s embrace of robotaxis signals a broader cultural shift towards accepting innovative solutions to urban mobility challenges. The future of transportation isn’t just coming, it’s already here, navigating our streets with increasing confidence and precision.