Waymo is preparing to bring its driverless robotaxi service to San Diego streets by mid-2026, marking the company's expansion into a 10th U.S. city. While city officials and some residents welcome the autonomous vehicle technology as a safer, more accessible transportation option, the arrival of Waymo threatens to disrupt the livelihoods of thousands of rideshare drivers, a concern that city leadership has largely sidestepped in public planning discussions .

What Happens to Rideshare Drivers When Waymo Arrives?

The economic impact on human drivers is not theoretical. In San Francisco, where Waymo launched as the first fully public autonomous robotaxi in November 2024, the rideshare market contracted sharply within months. Uber's sales fell 11% and Lyft's decreased 12% by the end of 2024, according to technology trend researcher Mario Herger . These declines occurred just one month after Waymo's public debut, suggesting a direct correlation between autonomous vehicle availability and reduced demand for human-driven rides.

For San Diego's rideshare workforce, the implications are stark. Mikuel Al Hussein, Executive Director for the United Taxi Workers of San Diego, voiced concerns during a Board of Directors meeting, noting the inherent unfairness of competing against machines that require no fuel, no breaks, and never tire . Unlike human drivers who depend on rideshare income to support themselves and their families, autonomous vehicles generate revenue that flows primarily to corporate shareholders and executives.

"That's a machine, you know. It doesn't need gas, it doesn't need anything and it doesn't get tired. That's a lot of unfair competition. Everybody knows that," stated Mikuel Al Hussein, Executive Director for the United Taxi Workers of San Diego.

Mikuel Al Hussein, Executive Director for the United Taxi Workers of San Diego

Even drivers in San Francisco who have already experienced Waymo's arrival acknowledge the inevitability of their displacement. Sandy Hui, an Uber driver interviewed by City Times reporters, admitted that resistance is futile. "You can't do much about it, because that's just how it is gonna be, right?" she said. "They're gonna have more of those Waymos out, and they're probably gonna have (self-driving cars) from different companies like Uber" .

How Cities Are Preparing for Autonomous Vehicle Integration

• Dedicated Infrastructure: San Diego's Mobility Master Plan, adopted by the City Council in April 2025, includes provisions for autonomous vehicles to access dedicated lanes on highways and streets currently used by buses and shuttles, improving efficiency and safety .
• Regulatory Framework: In January 2026, San Diego's Metropolitan Transit System proposed regulations for autonomous vehicle expansion, which passed with a 12-1 vote, establishing oversight mechanisms for robotaxi operations .
• Service Area Planning: Waymo has not yet released a specific launch date or service area map for San Diego, with the company stating it is still laying groundwork for the expansion, according to Mark Lewis, Waymo's public relations manager .

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has publicly embraced the autonomous vehicle expansion, stating that the city is "welcoming innovative and promising technologies like Waymo's autonomous vehicle" and exploring how to make transportation more accessible, sustainable, and connected . However, the mayor's statement conspicuously avoids addressing job security concerns that have dominated discussions among transit workers and their advocates.

Who Benefits From Robotaxis, and Who Pays the Cost?

Beyond job displacement, some San Diegans see potential benefits in autonomous vehicles. Stephanie Hollister, an instructor at City College, noted that robotaxis could provide a safer alternative to traditional rideshare services for women, particularly given documented safety concerns with existing platforms. As of July 2025, there were 2,369 reported sexual assault pending lawsuits against Uber, with women being the primary targets in the United States, according to a report from Chaikin Trial Group . A vehicle with no human driver eliminates certain interpersonal safety risks that have plagued the rideshare industry.

"As a female maybe it is a little bit safer than taking an Uber or Lyft. Because, you know, some stuff has happened where women have gotten assaulted (in Ubers or Lyfts)," said Stephanie Hollister, an instructor at City College.

Stephanie Hollister, Instructor at City College

The accessibility argument also resonates with city planners. San Diego's Mobility Master Plan explicitly aims to accommodate autonomous and connected vehicle infrastructure as these services are tested and deployed throughout the city, according to City Spokesperson Peter Kelly . For residents without access to personal vehicles or those with mobility limitations, robotaxis could expand transportation options.

Yet these benefits accrue primarily to consumers and technology companies, while the costs fall on workers. Chris Ippolito, a San Francisco resident, articulated this tension while discussing Waymo's expansion with friends: "Who's getting paid for Waymo? These CEOs and people that probably already have enough money as it is? At least with Uber, it's a person who's either living around the bay or commuting to the bay" . The wealth generated by autonomous vehicles concentrates at the top, while the economic security of working-class drivers evaporates.

Is Resistance Futile, or Can San Diego Chart a Different Course?

Some observers believe the transition to autonomous vehicles is inevitable, comparing it to previous technological disruptions in transportation. Ippolito acknowledged that despite his reservations about the fairness of the shift, he expects San Diegans to eventually accept robotaxis just as they accepted Uber and Lyft. "Even when Uber (was introduced) people didn't like it," he noted. "(Ubers) took over taxis and then taxis stopped being a thing. So I feel like this will pass. People are gonna start using Waymo, regardless" .

Ippolito

However, the comparison to past rideshare disruptions may obscure a critical difference. When Uber and Lyft entered markets, they created new jobs for drivers, even as they displaced traditional taxi workers. Waymo's expansion eliminates jobs entirely rather than replacing them with new opportunities. San Diego has the opportunity to learn from San Francisco's experience and implement worker transition programs, retraining initiatives, or other protections before Waymo's arrival. So far, city leadership has shown little appetite for such measures, focusing instead on infrastructure and regulatory approval while sidestepping the human cost of automation .

As Waymo prepares to reshape San Diego's rideshare landscape, the city faces a choice: embrace autonomous vehicles as a technological inevitability without addressing worker displacement, or proactively develop policies that acknowledge the real economic consequences for thousands of drivers whose livelihoods depend on rideshare work.