It’s not really an apple-to-apples comparison. These are taxis, so they should only be compared to professional taxi drivers. Then, unless you’re comparing per ride statistics, you have to factor in the fact that drivers typically park in between customers while AVs roam leading to additional traffic and chances for “glitches”.
This is before you begin to consider whether AV taxis are a societal benefit in one of the least car-centric places in the country.
I think that taxi for AV is selected not because this is the most painful area which must be improved (in that case I agree apple to apple comparison would be needed), but because it is a small well controlled area which is relatively easy to start and implement an improvement feedback loop.
It’s not really an apple-to-apples comparison. These are taxis, so they should only be compared to professional taxi drivers. Then, unless you’re comparing per ride statistics, you have to factor in the fact that drivers typically park in between customers while AVs roam leading to additional traffic and chances for “glitches”.
This is before you begin to consider whether AV taxis are a societal benefit in one of the least car-centric places in the country.
I think that taxi for AV is selected not because this is the most painful area which must be improved (in that case I agree apple to apple comparison would be needed), but because it is a small well controlled area which is relatively easy to start and implement an improvement feedback loop.