Cyclists in Austin Have an Unforeseen Stalker Following Them, Making Their Lives Awkward

The future of transportation in the USA, especially public is going through an unprecedented change. The growth of Tesla as a major market disruptor in the automobile sector has brought the advent of driverless cars but a blanket acceptance of it being a norm will take some time.

While there are several advantages to the employment of driverless cars, the past few months have brought to the fore several incidents that highlight the work that still needs to be done, with regard to its longevity. Texas-based journalist Caitlin Giddings recounted her weird and awkward experience with a driverless taxi on the streets of Texas, that left her questioning its safety and legitimacy.

Technological advancement reduced to a stalker?

Sharing her experience in Men’s Journal, the Texas resident cyclist spoke about how driverless taxis more often than not, occupy empty roads. She narrated how her recent ride out on the cycle was marred by several interruptions, all caused by the new-age invention.

She said that while riding, she noticed a fleet of at least 30 cars in a five-mile radius, all acting and moving in a rather strange and unpredictable manner. Giddings in her experience, recounted a particular instance where a driverless taxi looked like a stalker, as it eerily tagged along the route she took with her cyclist friends.

The car stood behind the group as they yelled and instructed it to move, unaware that it was not occupied by a driver.

The taxi only made its way after she and her friends cleared up the road on both sides. The entire incident left Giddings and her friends perplexed and feeling a little unsafe. The driverless taxi donned the role of a stalker in the eyes of the women.

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Public acceptance is still a long way

A major issue with driverless taxis is that these cars occupy what would otherwise be empty residential roads. These roads act as a perfect foil for cyclists to trudge out and enjoy the breeze as they ride but that has become an issue with these taxis on the roads.

“Robot taxis carrying no one on otherwise empty back roads. Without these self-driving cars, we would have had the route to ourselves,” the Texas-based journalist wrote in her column.

Another major issue flagged by many people and not just her, is the existence of cameras in these vehicles. The Cruise cars have a camera installed at the top of their building, which has left many people questioning whether their privacy will be violated. Continuous surveillance is a large looming fear in the minds of the public.

Not just vandalism but these vehicles moving on the road have led to accidents and unwanted incidents too. Just last month, the city of San Francisco saw three different instances where these cars caused havoc.

A separate incident saw one car ramming into a fire truck and injuring one person in the process. The number of accidents would reduce, supporters of the technology argued but there is enough evidence to say otherwise.

Just last week, an ambulance on the roads of California was blocked by a driverless taxi which led to the eventual death of the patient.

While experts, and manufacturers especially will argue that the technology is not harmful and causing a negative impact, the public is not convinced about it. Giddings too in her column, raised more questions and doubts about them and several people echoed the same thoughts.

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