I think in the long-run robotaxis are crime heaven. It's so easy to mug people in a robotaxi, especially when they're used like autonomous busses. Public transit is largely safe because you're in public. As soon as you put people, strangers, in a private little box with no accountability all bets are off.

I think they seem good now because you're not riding with randos. Although, randos can still trivially stop the car. But this model is unsustainable, eventually you will be riding with randos.

All of over the world there are subway cars where there are randos in the subway car with no security guard or driver. Essentially an autonomous "bus" scenario. Basically the exact same scenario you're describing. But it's not that dangerous

Those work because there's more people. It's hard to coordinate, say, 20 people to rob you (one guy).

If you ride the subway at night, with almost nobody on it, you get the same effect.

So let me get this straight. Once there are lots of people it's more dangerous, but once there are no people it's simultaneously more dangerous? I'm not following the logic here

They are saying there is safety in crowds.

>It's hard to coordinate, say, 20 people to rob you (one guy).

> But this model is unsustainable, eventually you will be riding with randos.

It's unsafe when there's lots of people, it's unsafe when there's no people. Basically they're saying it's unsafe no matter what, which just isn't true. Subway systems are an everyday part of life in many cities.

I think they are saying you are safe with a crowd, and safe with no people.

They are also claiming that Waymo will have compulsory ride sharing for some reason, and therefore wont be safe (I dont agree with this part)

The situation you want to avoid on a train or car is being trapped in a shared space with only a crazy person.

I see, but that's a very contrived situation. I think in that situation you just tell the Waymo to pull over and get out. The world is not a utopia. There will always be some sort of risk to everything we do

I agree with you that it is a contrived situation. I agree with them that the danger is highest when you are isolated with an unknown stranger.

I imagine "eventually you will be riding with randos" is more likely to work like Uber and Lyft right now, where you can get a discount if you accept a "shared" ride or pay full price for a car that's just you.

It might also be that Waymo and co have decided that the additional risk involved in putting strangers in a car together without a driver to keep an eye on them isn't worth taking on.

IMO Uber and Lyft are already unsustainable, and our current transportation infrastructure has been falling rapidly behind for a couple decades. I can't foresee a future where mass transportation is achievable with ANY single person vehicles, including robotaxis.

> there's surely a higher chance of being mugged walking down a dark street than riding in a 5000 lbs vehicle with tinted windows

Please account for the danger of being struck by other people riding in 5000 lb vehicles with tinted windows!

Much better to be inside of a protective steel cage if there's a chance of getting hit by a 5000 lb vehicle.