REPORT

How Would For-Hire Autonomous Vehicles Impact NYC?

Autonomous for-hire vehicles, better known as robotaxis, are operational in cities across the globe. In New York City, Waymo received a permit to test their vehicles with a safety driver, which expired in March 2026. Robotaxi companies have spent millions of dollars in New York City and State lobbying for the legalization of robotaxis. 

However, a core question remains unanswered: how might robotaxis impact our streetscape in comparison to the professional for-hire vehicle drivers of taxis, Ubers, and Lyfts? In this report, we explore this question through the lenses of safety, vehicle miles traveled, and parking.

Key Takeaways

1. As it stands, replacing a high-volume for-hire vehicle in New York City with a robotaxi would increase vehicle miles traveled and congestion. 

2. New York City’s constrained parking availability would likely dramatically increase Waymo’s miles driven empty if deployed in the city, leading to more traffic and wear on the streets.

3. Waymo’s preliminary safety record is encouraging, though more miles in more conditions must be driven to constitute a sufficient sample and draw definitive conclusions — and safety comparisons must be made to human for-hire vehicle drivers, which are safer than everyday drivers.

Policy Recommendations

• Require robotaxi companies to compare their safety data to professional, for-hire vehicle drivers as a prerequisite to licensure to operate 

• Require data transparency from robotaxi companies in order to conduct critical analyses 

• Evaluate fees to adequately capture and reduce the impact of robotaxis on our streets 

• Stop centering single-use vehicles and consider how automated public transit can fill holes in our transit system 

• Consider limiting robotaxis’ ability to travel within dense, transit-rich commercial areas 

• Expand for-hire vehicle pick-up/drop-off zones

• Manage licensing and control deployment to prevent excessive robotaxi vehicle miles traveled growth