Waymo Opposes Boston Ordinance Requiring Human Safety Operators

The Boston City Council is considering an ordinance that would prohibit fully autonomous ride-share services from operating within the city unless a human safety operator is present to intervene. Developed by eight council members and supported by labor groups—including the App Drivers Union, SEIU 32BJ, and the Teamsters for a Democratic Union—the proposal seeks to protect local drivers and business owners from the economic impacts of driverless technology.

The legislation mandates a comprehensive public study on how autonomous vehicles affect current ride-share employment, with a final report due by July 1, 2026. It also proposes the creation of a Commercial Autonomous Vehicle Operations Labor and Small Business Impact Advisory Board. The ordinance is currently under review by a city council committee, with further hearings expected before a final vote.

Waymo, an Alphabet subsidiary currently conducting mapping and testing in the city, argues that the requirement for a human operator in Section 6 constitutes an unprecedented ban on its technology. Company representatives claim the measure ignores the safety and accessibility benefits of autonomous transportation, while others characterized the proposal as an attempt to ban the technology based on vibes.