Could Robotaxis Soon Be Cruising The Streets Of Lubbock?

Tesla and Waymo are already operating self-driving taxi services in Austin. It's only a matter of time before they find their way to Lubbock. Texas has become one of the biggest testing grounds for autonomous cars, and with West Texas roads becoming busier and busier each year, it raises a real question:

Is Lubbock actually ready for robotaxis?

The answer depends on who you ask.

How Would Lubbock Handle Robotaxis?

On paper, Lubbock actually has a couple of advantages that autonomous vehicle companies really love.

The city is spread out, traffic is much lighter than in Dallas and Houston, and our roads are built on a simple grid system with wide streets and rather predictable intersections. There aren't confusing layouts here, and that's got to be a plus when it comes to robotaxis.

The Upsides to Robotaxis in Lubbock:

• Reduce drunk driving crashes (BIG ONE)
• Help the elderly and disabled get around with ease
• Provide transportation in areas with limited rideshare availabilities
• Cut down on human driving errors

Sounds promising until you take a peek at a few of the downsides...

The Downsides to Robotaxis:

• Many people still do not trust them
• Technology can still fail
• The weather can confuse sensors (Ours is nuts, if you haven't noticed.)
• They could replace human jobs
• Privacy concerns
• People don't like giving up control

Read More: Things Lubbock People Will Always Drive Across Town For

I guess it's really going to come down to personal preference when the time comes for Lubbock to hop into the 21st century with everyone else.

Normally, I find it frustrating that things in Lubbock don't move as quickly as the rest of the world. But, for robotaxis, I'm all for taking our time and letting them work out all the kinks. When things go wrong, they seem to go really wrong. I'll take my chances calling an Uber for now. No reason to rush it...

What about you?

I'd love to hear from YOU, Lubbock!

Email me your thoughts on handing the wheel over to a robot. Do you think it's for you? You can reach me at Chrissy.Covington@townsquaremedia.com, and then keep scrolling for more Lubbock fun in the galleries below!