The Jacksons, who Waymo made available for this story, have largely ditched their own cars and now use self-driving vehicles to go almost everywhere within the 100 square-mile operating area: track practice, grocery shopping, movies, the train station.
All rides are free for volunteers, but the Waymo app recently started to show hypothetical prices.
A Waymo spokesperson says the placeholder price is a way to solicit feedback from volunteers and “does not reflect the various pricing models under consideration.” It’s certainly got the Jackson family wondering how the service they’ve come to rely on will soon fit into their lives.
I am assuming no one promised them free rides for life. How easy it is to become dependent on something "free" and not think about what it might cost in the future when you can no longer live without it.