I admire you for taking this ride. I love the way you described it. But I loved the description of the cab rides to and from the Baltimore airport with cab drivers who had great stories to tell and how much fun those rides are and memorable in a completely different way than the driverless cab ride. I'm with you. If I have the chance to chat, laugh, and learn with the cab driver I am all about that! Thanks!
Thanks Kathi! Glad you agree. There's just something so gratifying about learning from strangers with different stories to tell than the ones we'd ordinarily hear.
Rekha, in Austin recently to visit my daughter Mary (a phd student at UT), she pointed to one white car after another with an odd thingy on top. "Driverless vehicles," she said. They've been popping up recently." Your essay brought to mind the many, many conversations I've had with taxi drivers in NY and elsewhere, those momentary connections, the warm feeling a brief, colorful conversation brings to the soul. I love them.
I lived in LA for almost 20 years and still "commute" from Iowa a few times a year and have noticed the change of driverless cars for delivery, but I've never taken a driverless car. One of my favorite Lyft rides was with a Persian driver who picked me up at LAX. From LAX to Santa Monica, we discussed family, work, religion and I think at one point I told him that I love baby goats. Because...when I arrived at my destination, he proposed. Not for him, but his brother who lived in Toronto. He said his family had lots of goats and my child and I would be totally taken care of and I would love his mother and aunties. He really sold it too by saying I would never have to cook again. His brother seemed to take backseat compared to the women, the food and the baby goats. I told him that as much as I LOVE Persian food, baby goats and a community of women, I would have to decline. I still believe many years later that this was a serious proposal.
Waymire cars have been operating in Phoenix the last few years we have visited down here. I am worried about their ability to see pedestrians out walking their dogs in the evening. I wear a headlamp but there are no sidewalks in our neighborhood & I don't trust the Waymire cars. I walk facing oncoming traffic as a precaution, but.....
Excellent. I always tell my kids that my favorite days are those where I learn something or make a new friend/connection. Even if it's a simple compliment in the Aldi aisle, it's gold.
Fun read. I had a scary ride in Kansas City one dark and icy night. The cab driver from the Amtrak to my hotel was from another land. He was friendly, helpful and shared that he had never driven on ice. Being known as an Interstate Queen having driven Iowa during many perils, I took on the backseat driver mode. My advise on the barren streets: stay in the middle of the one-way, slow down, no hard braking and swerve with the swerve. He got me safely to the hotel and thanked me for helping him navigate. I gave him a good tip as I knew he would have few fares that night. That drive was a good lesson in collaboration.
Powerful “Now I’m thinking of current-day metaphors that could be made about tech guru billionaires navigating the show from behind while closing doors and silencing the voices of immigrants and others”
I rented an electric car when I was in L A and had trouble getting it charged before returning it. The rental company was no help but I called a dealership for the model and they got me charged up in a few hours.
I admire you for taking this ride. I love the way you described it. But I loved the description of the cab rides to and from the Baltimore airport with cab drivers who had great stories to tell and how much fun those rides are and memorable in a completely different way than the driverless cab ride. I'm with you. If I have the chance to chat, laugh, and learn with the cab driver I am all about that! Thanks!
Thanks Kathi! Glad you agree. There's just something so gratifying about learning from strangers with different stories to tell than the ones we'd ordinarily hear.
♥️
Like the piece. Don’t like the concept. Sending you love❤️
Fascinating take on the driverless cab. LOVE the detail and play-by-play of the experience.
yikes! trippy, indeed!
I hope it wasn’t a Tesla, Rekha!
Rekha, in Austin recently to visit my daughter Mary (a phd student at UT), she pointed to one white car after another with an odd thingy on top. "Driverless vehicles," she said. They've been popping up recently." Your essay brought to mind the many, many conversations I've had with taxi drivers in NY and elsewhere, those momentary connections, the warm feeling a brief, colorful conversation brings to the soul. I love them.
I lived in LA for almost 20 years and still "commute" from Iowa a few times a year and have noticed the change of driverless cars for delivery, but I've never taken a driverless car. One of my favorite Lyft rides was with a Persian driver who picked me up at LAX. From LAX to Santa Monica, we discussed family, work, religion and I think at one point I told him that I love baby goats. Because...when I arrived at my destination, he proposed. Not for him, but his brother who lived in Toronto. He said his family had lots of goats and my child and I would be totally taken care of and I would love his mother and aunties. He really sold it too by saying I would never have to cook again. His brother seemed to take backseat compared to the women, the food and the baby goats. I told him that as much as I LOVE Persian food, baby goats and a community of women, I would have to decline. I still believe many years later that this was a serious proposal.
Waymire cars have been operating in Phoenix the last few years we have visited down here. I am worried about their ability to see pedestrians out walking their dogs in the evening. I wear a headlamp but there are no sidewalks in our neighborhood & I don't trust the Waymire cars. I walk facing oncoming traffic as a precaution, but.....
Wonderful piece
Really enjoyed reading about your experience
I would be so scared!!!!
And yes I would miss the little chat with a driver too
Excellent. I always tell my kids that my favorite days are those where I learn something or make a new friend/connection. Even if it's a simple compliment in the Aldi aisle, it's gold.
Thanks Cynthia. I love the Aldi aisles!
It really is a special place. Kind of a beacon in these mean times. Thank you.
"Like having Artificial Intelligence sing you happy birthday." Great line!
Thanks! Seriously, what could make you feel lonelier than that?
Fun read. I had a scary ride in Kansas City one dark and icy night. The cab driver from the Amtrak to my hotel was from another land. He was friendly, helpful and shared that he had never driven on ice. Being known as an Interstate Queen having driven Iowa during many perils, I took on the backseat driver mode. My advise on the barren streets: stay in the middle of the one-way, slow down, no hard braking and swerve with the swerve. He got me safely to the hotel and thanked me for helping him navigate. I gave him a good tip as I knew he would have few fares that night. That drive was a good lesson in collaboration.
"Interstate Queen" -- I love that! Sounds like you saved each other.
Great column, Rekha! What’s weirder: Driverless cabs in LA traffic or driverless tractors in Iowa farm fields?
Thanks, Chuck! That's a tough call.
Powerful “Now I’m thinking of current-day metaphors that could be made about tech guru billionaires navigating the show from behind while closing doors and silencing the voices of immigrants and others”
Thanks, Terry. Sad but true.
I rented an electric car when I was in L A and had trouble getting it charged before returning it. The rental company was no help but I called a dealership for the model and they got me charged up in a few hours.
Glad to hear it Good thinking!