In an unexpected twist, Sophia Tung, a software engineer living in san francisco, turned an apology from Waymo into an adventurous day of exploration. This summer, Tung made headlines when she set up a livestream to showcase the self-driving Waymo robotaxis honking incessantly from a nearby parking lot. The constant noise, particularly during the late hours, had become a nuisance for her and her neighbors.
In response to the uproar, Waymo organized a community ice cream party in Tung’s building as a goodwill gesture. Additionally, they provided her with promo codes for free rides, perhaps hoping to smooth over the complaints. However, they may not have fully anticipated how Tung would capitalize on this gesture.
After sharing a few of the codes with friends, Tung realized the remaining code was uncapped in value. Inspired, she devised a plan to spend an entire day in a Waymo, visiting iconic san francisco landmarks. With an adventurous spirit, she set out to explore the city, intending to cover significant sites such as Golden Gate Park, Chinatown, and Twin Peaks.
Unfortunately, her grand plans hit a snag. After 83 miles and 6.5 hours of travel, the self-driving car ended the ride with 20 miles still to go. This abrupt conclusion cut short her intended journey, forcing her to return to her neighborhood.
Reflecting on the experience, Tung humorously lamented, “Six hours and 30 minutes; I’m never doing that again,” as she tried to regain feeling in her legs after the extended ride.
While her journey may not have gone as planned, Tung's adventure with Waymo turned an initial annoyance into a memorable, if not exhausting, day of exploration in the heart of San Francisco.
click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel