Among those perplexed about Lurie’s announcement that Waymo would have access to Market Street is former Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, who voted to approve the Better Market Street plan that closed Market Street, to great fanfare, back in January 2020.

Lurie is positioning the rollout as part of a broader downtown revitalization effort that includes reforms to the city’s permitting system, support for small businesses and proposed entertainment zones. Waymo will begin the mapping process with humans behind the wheel before it launches the fully driverless rides.

The executive director of the San Francisco Bike Coalition says he wasn't too happy when he heard Mayor Daniel Lurie's announcement that Waymo will soon be allowed to drive on the portion of Market Street closed off to cars.