San Francisco tennis coach says a Waymo drove off with pricey equipment
A San Francisco passenger claims a Waymo driverless taxi drove off with his expensive tennis equipment inside. More than two months later, he still has no idea where his possessions went.
As first reported by the San Francisco Standard, the passenger is filing a small claims suit against the company.
Dan Linley lives in lower Nob Hill and spends his days going back and forth between his work as a high school tennis coach and coaching tennis lessons.
'I've been doing it 30 years now, it's how I make my living,' Linley said.
Like many San Franciscans, he doesn't have a car. Lately, he's been getting around the city by riding Waymo driverless taxis.
On February 7, at around 5:30 p.m., Linley said the Waymo he was riding in dropped him off at Golden Gate Park, but the trunk, which was filled with his expensive tennis equipment, didn't open.
Waymo said in an online forum that once riders reach their destination, the trunk will automatically open when the rider exits the vehicle. But Linley said that didn't happen on this occasion. Having used the Waymo app before, Linley knows a button in the app can allow passengers to open the trunk. But this time, Linley said there was no option to open the trunk through the app, and the trunk wasn't opening on its own.
'So I called customer service to see if someone could open the car remotely for me,' Linley recalled. 'A guy picked up the phone, he was very very nice, and in the middle of him trying to open up the trunk, the car drove away.'
'And I'm like, 'you know the car is driving away, and I have a picture of it, I don't know what you want me to do'' Linley said. 'He was very calm and very nice and he goes, 'Well I'll file a lost and found report for you.''
Linley recalled that his items were easy to see through the trunk window, so he figured Waymo would have no difficulty finding them. He said that in the trunk of that vehicle was a large duffel bag full of tennis balls, a portable teaching cart, a couple of 'ball hoppers,' his personal tennis racket, and other gear.
He added that not only is the missing gear pricey, but he is losing money because he can't teach lessons without it.
Linley said for the past two months, he has been asking Waymo to return his belongings or reimburse him. But he said neither has happened, despite correspondence with multiple Waymo agents.
This week, Linley filed a small claims suit against Waymo, seeking $12,500 in damages. He said that amount includes both the value of the missing equipment and the revenue he's lost from not being able to teach lessons. Linley said he currently has a list of more than 20 people who are requesting lessons with him, but he doesn't have the gear to help them.
Waymo declined NBC Bay Area's request for an interview, but a spokesperson said in a statement, 'Waymo is in touch with the individual and working to resolve the claim. Waymo's Support Team operates with the goal of reuniting riders and their forgotten items.'
'They're not forgotten,' Linley said of his possessions.
'They were lost, not of my accord, they were not lost by me, they were taken by the car,' he insisted.
Linley is frustrated and perplexed about where his items might have gone.
He said one Waymo representative he contacted told him the company was still investigating his case.
'I'm like, 'I don't know what there is to investigate. Are you dusting for prints? Are you calling the FBI? What is there to investigate? Find the stuff!'' Linley said.
He added that this whole experience is making him reconsider whether to use Waymo going forward.
For the time being, he has advice for other riders: 'I would say keep your stuff in the back seat, that's what I would recommend.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
14 hours ago
- Reuters
Breakingviews - Robotaxis go from hype to maybe, possibly, profit
HONG KONG, June 4 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Self-driving cars have seemed the ultimate unfulfilled promise. Everyone from Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab boss Elon Musk to ousted Nissan (7201.T), opens new tab Chair Carlos Ghosn has hailed, opens new tab the impending mass arrival of vehicles that can dispense with human drivers, only for much-hyped timelines to pass by. Recently, though, the tone has shifted. Costs are falling; adoption in early markets is rising; artificial intelligence heralds new capabilities. Challenges still loom, but robotic taxis are looking more inevitable. Musk perhaps best embodies the sense of missed expectations. Over the past decade, he has promised that truly autonomous vehicles were coming first in 2018, then 2019, and so on, to the point that he dubbed himself the 'boy who cried' full-self driving. Even when limited tests were delivering rides with no people behind the steering wheel, incidents like General Motors-owned (GM.N), opens new tab Cruise's tragic pedestrian collision in 2023 seemed critical setbacks. Now, though, things are moving faster. Tesla is internally committed to launching a robotaxi service later this month in Austin, Texas, Bloomberg reported. But they're already playing catch-up. Alphabet-controlled (GOOGL.O), opens new tab Waymo operates commercial services in multiple cities; in San Francisco, its market share has exceeded traditional ride-hailing app Lyft (LYFT.O), opens new tab, according to analysts at venture capital firm Bond, opens new tab. The technology is moving out of early hotspots in the U.S. and China, too: this year, WeRide (WRD.O), opens new tab started to serve passengers in Abu Dhabi. Waymo is conducting tests in Japan. Behind the optimism is one major factor: cost. First, take the cars themselves. Morgan Stanley analysts, totting up the wealth of sensors they sport to map the world and computing grunt to traverse it, estimated in October that Waymo's current-generation vehicles cost over $120,000. Its upcoming car, by their reckoning, could fall to $85,000. By July, Goldman Sachs estimated that specialized vehicles could ring in at $50,000 by 2030. In the interim, though, Baidu ( opens new tab CEO Robin Li told analysts that the company could bring costs to under $30,000. Elon Musk has suggested that Tesla could do that too. Higher production volume is key. For Tesla, so too is eschewing expensive sensors like lidar. Those still hewing to the gizmos may get a boost, too: Chinese manufacturer Hesai Technology says its latest lidar is half the price of the previous generation. Actually delivering on these boasts is another matter. Getting any of the way there, though, would be hugely significant, since depreciation accounts for the majority of per-ride costs, according to TD Cowen. Yet operating expenses must come in line, too. Initial stabs at self-driving were a tangle of neural networks and hard-coded rules, requiring vast quantities of real-world data to finesse. Key to the process was not just using regular maps, but minutely surveying areas of operation, which requires constant updates. The appeal of Tesla's approach is that it avoids this step, using camera feedback to make on-the-fly decisions. The likes of UK-based Wayve and China's Pony AI (PONY.O), opens new tab, meanwhile, are using generative AI to create virtual training scenarios to prepare their models for the statistically unlikely but potentially ride-ending 'corner cases' that human drivers can readily handle. This could make expansion less laborious: Wayve, for instance, claims that its software was able, opens new tab to navigate unfamiliar U.S. and German roads with only a few weeks of additional training. Of course, technology sometimes fails, and a human must be on hand to observe and potentially take over. Today, robotaxi operator Pony AI lets one person monitor as many as a dozen cars, a person familiar with the matter told Breakingviews. What may limit that ratio in the end is public debates over safety. Analysts' and industry insiders' estimates for how many supervisors will be required range anywhere from one for every five vehicles to one for every fifty. Ultimately, though, this is squeezing a small part of total expenses. Morgan Stanley pegs mobile operators at under 5% of Waymo's vehicle-level per-mile costs. Given the momentum, profitability seems plausible. Analysts at Huatai foresee Guangzhou-headquartered Pony AI's vehicles costing 200,000 yuan, around $28,000, by 2028. If that happens, vehicle depreciation, remote monitoring, maintenance and other expenses like insurance could be roughly 100,000 yuan annually, all-in. Charging as little as 3 yuan per kilometer, if it can cover some 300 kilometers for 340 days per year – in the ballpark of what a human taxi driver manages, opens new tab in super-dense cities – would yield double that in revenue, even accounting for the fact some of those miles will be without passengers. There remain corporate expenses like research, financing, and more. Still, analysts polled by LSEG see everything coming into balance, forecasting a net profit for Pony AI by 2029. Compatriot WeRide, which also operates other, simpler kinds of autonomous services like street-sweeping, may get there by 2027, per the estimates. Caveats apply. A working robotaxi is one thing; finding customers is another. Operators like Waymo and WeRide have thus far tended towards partnering with ride-hailing apps like Uber (UBER.N), opens new tab. These dominant platforms will take their cut, possibly as much as 30% of gross bookings, analysts at TD Cowen reckon. Political tensions may stymie international expansion. The U.S. has effectively banned Chinese connected car technology within its borders. The constant threat of stricter controls on chips and chip-making gear from Uncle Sam could be a hurdle for manufacturers in the People's Republic. There are other wildcards, too. Local regulators' decisions on things like the required number of monitors, or where fleets can operate, are just the beginning, nudging the scales of cost and revenue. A single tragic accident – like the fatal crash that sunk Cruise – could trigger tighter controls and spook customers. Powerful lobbies could keep robotaxis out of certain markets entirely. It's therefore easy to understand why some CEOs are wary. Yu Kai, boss of Volkswagen partner Horizon Robotics, told Breakingviews that the current generation of autonomous cars are akin to a horse – 'smart enough' to get from A to B most of the time, yet not so smart that riders can simply take a nap. Musk himself once preached that getting to 90% of miles driven autonomously is the easy part, with the final 10% being a much tougher challenge. Robotaxis are now all about profitably claiming those final miles. Follow Katrina Hamlin on Bluesky, opens new tab and Linkedin, opens new tab.
Auto Blog
2 days ago
- Auto Blog
Waymo Vehicles Ignite Protests Amid Public Disturbance Concerns
A California law impacting Waymo has Santa Monica residents fuming Santa Monica, California, residents have been up in arms over the beeping noises at various hours of the day and night from a Waymo-funded parking lot in the area. The 56-vehicle autonomous rideshare fleet, which uses a Santa Monica lot as a charging base, frequently beeps due to a state regulation requiring electric cars to make noise when backing up. Santa Monica officials only learned about Waymo's presence in the lot after receiving resident complaints. Anuj Gupta, Santa Monica's director of transit services, wrote to Waymo's city policy and government affairs manager in a Feb. 11 email: 'What particularly surprised and concerned us is that this site had never come up as a Waymo hub or parking/charging location on any of our previous check-in calls—yet there is clearly a substantial Waymo operation occurring out of these lots that is drawing concern,' according to The Los Angeles Times. Waymo vehicles navigate and charge at a Santa Monica, California charging lot. — Source: Getty However, Lauren Howland, a city spokesperson, added: 'They [Waymo] were not obligated to tell us since they're renting it [the lot] from a third party.' City staff also said that noise recently measured from Waymo's site was within city noise limits. Waymo opened up two charging stations for over 50 company cars in January. Santa Monica locals have tried blocking the Waymos from entering their company lot using cones, cars, and themselves. A strategy that Santa Monica residents call 'stacking the Waymos' involves people sauntering in the vehicle's path to create a backup of the cars. One local practiced Waymo stacking so frequently that the company called the police on him six times and unsuccessfully tried to get a temporary restraining order, The Los Angeles Times reports. Waymo's response to the noise complaints Waymo responded to Santa Monica residents' complaints by saying it: 'Will continue to learn and improve how we introduce ourselves to new communities when we arrive.' While beeping is cited as the primary noise concern, Waymo has taken steps to reduce noise from its parking lots, including buying quieter vacuums for cleaning the vehicles and banning vacuuming from 9:00 pm to 7:00 am, installing bamboo stands to absorb noise, lowering employee working hours within lots, and limiting speed in alleyways to 10 mph. Waymo opened its Waymo One autonomous rideshare service to anyone in Los Angeles in November 2024. Overhead view of a Santa Monica, California Waymo charging lot. — Source: Getty Final thoughts For the most part, Waymo is considered the world's leader in autonomous ridesharing, with several U.S. operation areas, near-future plans to expand internationally, and a quality safety record. Reported issues associated with the fleet, like traffic blockages, tend to be limited relative to how many miles the company logs daily. Compared to human drivers over 56.7 million miles, Waymo had 92% fewer pedestrian crashes and 82% fewer cyclist and motorcycle crashes. Still, chronic noise complaints like the ones from Santa Monica residents are a problem Waymo needs to solve sooner rather than later if it wants to maintain its reputation, especially with how quickly people criticize self-driving tech. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime.
Auto Blog
2 days ago
- Auto Blog
Uber's UK Robotaxi Fleet is Ready, But Regulations Hold Keys
Uber U.K.'s self-driving fleet pushed back a year as lawmakers work on regulatory frameworks Uber's CEO has boldly declared that the company is ready to launch its U.K. self-driving fleet, but regulatory hurdles have caused the rideshare service to pump its brakes for now. In 2024, the U.K.'s Department of Transport said that the Automated Vehicles Act would allow autonomous cars to be on roads by 2026. However, current regulations require self-driving vehicles to have a human behind the wheel, and the deadline for details on how autonomous fleets can deploy has been pushed to 2027, Newsweek reports. 0:06 / 0:09 Walmart is selling a 'heavy duty' $89 step ladder for $48, and shoppers say it's 'sturdy and secure' Walmart is selling a 'heavy duty' $89 step ladder for $48, and shoppers say it's 'sturdy and secure' Watch More Last June's general election in the U.K. led to a new government reviewing legislative frameworks on self-driving cars, influencing the change in launch timing. Andrew Macdonald, senior vice president of mobility at Uber, told the BBC: 'We're ready to launch robotaxis in the UK as soon as the regulatory environment is ready for us.' Uber currently offers autonomous rideshare services with companies like Waymo in the U.S. — Source: Getty Macdonald added that Uber is working with 18 automated vehicle tech companies, including Wayve, which is helping launch Nissan's next-generation ProPILOT driver-assist system. In the U.S., Uber runs a self-driving fleet with Waymo, generally considered the world's leading autonomous rideshare service, with plans to deploy thousands of electric ID. Buzz self-driving vans starting next year in Los Angeles. The U.K.'s Department of Transportation is working to release autonomous vehicle legislation in the second half of 2027 while exploring short-term trials and pilot programs for the tech, according to the BBC. While Macdonald noted that Uber is ready to launch its robotaxis in the U.K., he emphasized the brand's commitment to safety by saying, 'One accident is too many.' Waymo reported in late April that its autonomous fleet was involved in 81% fewer injury-causing crashes compared to a human benchmark over tens of millions of miles. Autonomy expert highlights the hurdles governments and companies like Uber face with self-driving tech Dr. Saber Fallah, a professor of safe artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy at the University of Surrey, told Newsweek that the U.K.'s decision to delay regulatory frameworks for self-driving vehicles will help the public get on board with the tech that many still view as risky. 'While the maturity of certain technologies, such as those proposed by Uber, is advancing rapidly, readiness must be judged not just on how well the technology performs in ideal conditions, but also on how consistently and reliably it makes decisions in complex real-world environments. The fundamental challenge lies in bridging the gap between statistical learning and human-level reasoning. Current autonomous vehicle systems often lack the capacity to explain their decisions, adapt meaningfully to unique scenarios, or respond with the nuanced judgment that human drivers routinely demonstrate. True readiness requires systems that offer traceable reasoning, safety assurance, and hybrid validation under diverse conditions. Legally and ethically, certifying decision-making processes that remain unclear to regulators poses significant risks,' Fallah explained. Fallah also cited infrastructure gaps, primarily in digital connectivity and scenario testing, as hindering the progress of autonomous cars. In other words, self-driving vehicles can still experience difficulty communicating with each other and the road infrastructure, and there are limited ways to test all the real-world scenarios the tech might face. Uber headquarters, California — Source: Getty Final thoughts While Fallah raises several valid points on the challenges of commercializing autonomous fleets, he also offers insight into how tech companies and government regulators can overcome these obstacles. Fallah views the key ingredients to self-driving cars' success as emphasizing public assurance, regulation, AI transparency, and human oversight. This industry expert described the U.S. and China as placing less emphasis on assurance and regulation, but China has demonstrated a recent commitment to tighter regulations with actions like banning words like 'smart' and 'autonomous' from vehicle ads.
