https://patch.com/california/fremont/city-fremont-pony-ai-launch-autonomous-vehicle-commuter-pilot-program

ETA: when I brought this up in my Nextdoor dot com forum, post was reported. And then removed. Two of my city council members and the mayor live in the same area as I do. Reporting is normal. Removal means area leads or moderators deem it inappropriate.

How is it inappropriate to question special treatment(and arguably perks) of a tech that is untested. What if zoox wants to trial their autonomous taxis next? What is the criteria for allowing them in our city?

I don’t mind the trials. But why is it open only to city employees? Will their feedback matter?

If anything trials should exclude city employees. They do that with jury selection and other private/public sector interactions.

Eta2: https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2019/06/20/chinese-selfdriving-startups-autox-and-ponyai-get-green-light-to-offer-rides-on-california-roads/ : I thought they meant THEIR employees. Not the city government’s employees.

I am really surprised at this arrangement. I have never heard of anything like this. Am I misreading something?