It was a modern mystery
In a tiny neighborhood in San Francisco’s Richmond District, self-driving Waymo cars have been converging at all hours of the day and night, mystifying neighbors, KPIX reported earlier this week. Most would drive to the dead-end on 15th Avenue, where they then had no choice but to turn around and leave, according to the outlet — and neighbors have no idea why.
“I noticed it while I was sleeping. I awoke to a strange hum that I thought there was a spacecraft outside my window,” Jennifer King, a resident of the neighborhood, told the outlet.
She added later, “There are some days it can be up to 50 [cars], literally every five minutes, and we’re all working from home, so this is what we hear.”
The random influx of cars has been puzzling for residents. The cars aren’t carting passengers to and fro, according to a report. When locals have asked the drivers why they’re in the neighborhood, they reply that the cars are “programmed” and they’re just “doing their job,” KPIX reported.
“We continually adjust to dynamic San Francisco road rules,” the spokesperson said. “In this case, cars traveling North of California on 15th Avenue have to make a U-turn due to the presence of Slow Streets signage on Lake. So, the Waymo Driver was obeying the same road rules that any car is required to follow.” The company calls its autonomous technology Waymco Driver.
