Waymo Opens Up Self-Driving Car Program to the Public in Phoenix Following Initial Success

[Tinmania]

It's kind of funny the still from the video in the article shows the car up on the curb.

Not really. The curbs in many subdivisions in Arizona, like the one in the video, are mountable curbs, as opposed to barrier curbs. A mountable curb starts level with the street, then sometimes down to create a gutter, and then slopes up to the sidewalk level, if present. This type of curb does not require cut outs for driveways. The minivan in the video is parked normally for this type of curb.

 

[sleepydinosaur]

With this we agree... Phoenix has gone down hill fast with the influx of California transplants.
At least the snowbirds would leave after spring training.
Personally I'd be living up in Pinetop if it weren't for the fact that it's a solid 4 hour drive to the office.

Pinetop Lakeside is nice, in my married life we used to camp up there and its beautiful. I loved Jerome. Arizona is a good place to live if you like road tripping (which I do). Its unfortunate its become a haven for crusty old republicans and the schools are a joke. There's a small but dedicated foodie scene that's already getting stamped out by the city council.
3 years to go.....I keep telling myself.....3 years....

 

[rjohnstone]

Yes but, Phoenix is poorly layed out and a sprawling city. Cars are an absolute necessity here.

Phoenix proper, is a grid system for the most part. Pretty easy to get around. Some of the suburbs, I'm looking at you Mesa and Tempe, really suck.
Phoenix lacks a good freeway structure. It's getting better. Dreamy Draw was a disaster, and I was a happy MF when the 51 replaced that mess. I remember they were supposed to turn Bethany Home Rd. into a central corridor freeway. Too many historic homes around Central Ave killed it.

But on topic, having a grid system of streets does make trip planning for self driving cars bit easier and you have several options for traffic avoidance during rush hour.