Technology has already made a difference in the lives of San Franciscans living with disabilities, Lana Nieves argues
San Francisco has long had a reputation as the hub of U.S. innovation, yet too many people with disabilities still struggle gaining access to one of the most basic requirements of daily life: safe, dependable transit.
At the Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco, we hear this every day. While San Francisco’s public transportation systems have made progress, the sad reality is that they remain inconsistent and inaccessible for far too many residents. With nearly one in eight San Franciscans reporting a disability of some kind, according to the most recent U.S. Census data, it’s past time the technological innovations that are born in this city actually serve a wider range of the people who live, work, study, and raise families here. For a long time, we’ve demanded that the tech industry take into consideration the wide variety of consumers they’re supposed to be serving. I’m starting to think tech innovators have finally listened to the noise we’ve been making, thanks to the ILRCSF’s ongoing partnership with Waymo: Its autonomous ride-hailing service continues to evolve, and its developers continue to involve and consult the disability community. Safe, accessible transportation is convenient and criticalSan Francisco’s geography is as challenging as it is beautiful. Steep hills, densely populated neighborhoods, and uneven transit coverage create barriers that disproportionately impact people with disabilities. Even where public transit is available it may be unreliable, difficult to navigate, or challenging from a psychological or developmental point of view. Traditional ride-hail services are only as reliable and safe as the people operating the vehicles. Drivers can make rude and ableist comments, show impatience and frustration when encountering passengers with “special” needs, and refuse passengers with service animals. It’s not unusual for drivers to drive past and cancel rides when they realize a passenger has a disability they can quickly spot. I’ve witnessed this more times than I can count, and actually experienced some of it, myself. Autonomous vehicles remove these particular barriers to access. They arrive consistently — without the risk of a no-show or last-minute cancellation. They operate without bias or judgment. They don’t question whether a rider “looks disabled.” They don’t get frustrated by the time someone needs to get settled, or make unsafe decisions because they’re tired or distracted. “Safety” means different things to different people. Take Marcus, a 19-year-old on the autism spectrum whose name has been changed to protect his privacy. His parents have raised him to be as independent as possible. In most ways, he’s like any other 19-year-old, except he experiences extreme anxiety around new people, especially in enclosed spaces. Before Waymo, Marcus’ outings with his friends — to Golden Gate Park, to the beach, to watch the San Francisco Giants play — revolved around his parents’ ability to drop him off and pick him up in their car. A year ago, they decided to look into Waymo’s service. Marcus quickly took to using the app to hail a ride and finally had greater control of his comings and goings, without having to rely on his parents for transportation. Thanks to Waymo he not only meets with his friends on a regular basis, but independently rides to school, and even to visit his grandmother in Visitation Valley. When Marcus gets into a Waymo car, his parents feel he’ll have a safe emotional and physical experience. Ex // Top Stories Super Mensch captures New York deli flavors — in its cocktails The new bar and restaurant has a creative cocktail menu inspired by classic Jewish American cuisine, most typically found in a New York deli. Will Cal Academy replace Claude the 'gator? The museum will take time to mourn but then consider what to do with Claude’s swamp Forget Waymo — everyone should ride the bus Autonomous vehicles are not the answer to logistics and social isolation; public services are Innovation only works when it’s accessible to allAs San Francisco continues its technology leadership, we encourage companies to engage with disability advocates. At ILRCSF, we work hard so that people with disabilities can be full social and economic partners in their communities. And one of our core beliefs is that accessibility is strongest when it is built into systems from the beginning, not as an afterthought. This is why our collaborations with companies like Waymo and Zoox is so important. When technology companies proactively engage with the disability community, they design safer, smarter, fairer products for everyone. Through our work together, Waymo has demonstrated something crucial: Innovation and accessibility are not competing goals. They are mutually reinforcing. What kind of city does San Francisco want to be?San Francisco has spent the last decade embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into nearly every aspect of local government, yet our transportation network still tells a different story. We can do better, and emerging technologies offer us that chance. Autonomous vehicles offer safer and more consistent travel for people who have long been underserved, expanding the menu of accessible transportation options at a time when our city urgently needs them. Are autonomous vehicles a miracle cure for inequity in transportation? Absolutely not. Has this technology made a huge difference in the lives of many people across the disability spectrum? Absolutely. As Waymo and other companies refine autonomous technology, they must continue listening to riders with disabilities. Policymakers must ensure safety and access remain central, not optional, in regulatory frameworks. Community organizations must continue advocating for equity in every sector. And residents must recognize that accessible transportation must benefit everyone — whether that be an elderly grandparent, somebody with a temporary injury, or somebody who has a longer-term disability of any type. True independence requires a city designed for all San Franciscans, regardless of ability. Our city and our residents deserve that. Lana Nieves is the executive director of Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco, which has been a part of the Waymo Accessibility Network since its launch in 2022.
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