Residents of Atlanta are expressing disappointment and confusion regarding a recent partnership between the city’s Streets Alive event and the autonomous vehicle company Waymo, along with its partner, Uber.
Thomas Mitchell, a local resident who regularly attends Streets Alive, voiced his concerns in an interview, stating, “It just seems to go against the spirit of what I thought Streets Alive was about. It’s just incredibly disappointing.”
Streets Alive, an initiative launched 15 years ago, was designed to promote alternatives to Atlanta’s car-centric infrastructure by temporarily closing streets to vehicle traffic, allowing pedestrians, cyclists, skaters, and others to reclaim the space. The event symbolizes a vision for urban mobility that prioritizes human interaction and community engagement over vehicular traffic.
In a statement addressing the collaboration with Waymo and Uber, officials from the Atlanta Department of Transportation (DOT) emphasized that the partnership aligns with the city’s Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. They highlighted that autonomous vehicle technology could potentially enhance safety by reducing human error.
The Atlanta DOT’s statement explained, “Autonomous vehicle technology presents a potential tool for reducing harm—particularly when designed to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists…” They noted that a Waymo information booth would be present at the upcoming Streets Alive event, allowing attendees to learn more about the technology and ask any questions.
For context, the city engaged Waymo in discussions earlier in the year about the Vision Zero initiative. Uber and Waymo contributed $25,000 as part of the sponsorship for Streets Alive, helping to fund the event logistics, further underlining the necessity of public-private partnerships for potential large-scale city programs.
Waymo’s autonomous vehicles have been actively tested in Atlanta for approximately a year and recently began offering rides to select Uber users. In comparison, Austin, Texas, has witnessed a similar partnership between the two companies, with Waymo accounting for about 20% of Uber’s rides in that city, according to Bloomberg News.
Among the showcased AI vehicles at the forthcoming Streets Alive event on June 22 will be one of Waymo’s electric Jaguar SUVs, intended to represent “the future of transportation.” Public records from the Atlanta Police Department indicate that there has been only one incident involving a Waymo vehicle since the start of 2024, which simply involved a resident expressing fascination while taking pictures of the autonomous vehicle.
While many may welcome the technological advancements associated with autonomous vehicles, there are residents like Mitchell who feel that this collaboration contradicts the ethos of Streets Alive. He expressed his love for the event, stating, “We can actually engage directly with people and… hopefully live a more fulfilling life.” His excitement turned to surprise and frustration when he witnessed a Waymo vehicle navigate a closed street during a previous Streets Alive event.
According to Mitchell, the vehicle entered a section that was closed off to traffic, leading to a sequence of confusing interactions with police standing guard around the car. “At first, it was kind of funny, but then it became annoying,” he recounted, describing a biker’s frustrated response as they rode by, flipping off the car.
Kaylyssa Quinn, another Streets Alive attendee, shared a similar experience while attending the event with her young son. She recorded a video of a Waymo vehicle parked beneath infrastructure meant to block vehicle access, reinforcing her feeling that autonomous vehicles are overly hyped.
Quinn remarked, “It’s literally just a car. It’s just another car,” reflecting a sentiment that questions the relevance of autonomous vehicles within an event primarily aimed at promoting car-free spaces.
Both Mitchell and Quinn questioned the appropriateness of featuring Waymo at Streets Alive, suggesting that alternatives, such as Lime scooters and bikes—which are more in line with the event’s mission—would have been a better fit. Lime, along with its competitor Bird, will be providing electric scooters and bikes during the event, with bike valet services and demonstrations. MARTA, Atlanta’s transit service, will also be present, showcasing electric buses equipped with bike racks for patron convenience.
Mitchell also pointed to statistics from Lime, which recently named Atlanta a top city for scooter and bike ridership. He felt that the event should emphasize micromobility options, suggesting that promoting “that’s very different than ‘here, hop in a car.’”
The upcoming Streets Alive is set to close Peachtree Street between Alabama Street and 15th Street in Midtown, with the Waymo booth strategically located across from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church near the Civic Center MARTA station. The Lime and MARTA booths will be set up along the same block as the Waymo display, while Bird will have its booth nearby at 1100 Peachtree St.
As the debate continues, the juxtaposition of Streets Alive’s community-focused message against the backdrop of autonomous vehicle technology raises questions about the future of urban transportation in Atlanta.
image source from：https://www.ajc.com/news/2025/06/car-free-streets-alive-finds-unlikely-sponsor-in-uber-and-waymo/
