Waymo is bringing its driverless vehicles to Denver

The driverless robotaxi system Waymo will begin offering rides to Denverites sometime next year as part of its plan to bring the burgeoning and controversial self-driving technology to the city for the first time.

Denver residents can expect to start seeing Waymo cars on the street this week as the company deploys about a dozen self-driving test vehicles, said Sandy Karp, a spokesperson for the company.

“We won’t be serving riders right away. We’re beginning with an exploratory phase to understand Denver’s unique driving environment, while engaging with local officials and community partners,” Karp said Tuesday.

Waymo already has vehicles in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta and Phoenix, operating like the ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft (and sometimes in partnership with them) once it’s established in a city. The vehicles use sensors and cameras to operate.

The vehicles, in testing for years, have been a source of controversy in some of those cities, especially after protesters in Los Angeles set fire to some of the cars. Others have complained that the cars are a nuisance for other drivers and can get stuck. Police have also used Waymo as a source of surveillance footage to investigate crimes.

Waymo, however, cites internal research suggesting the technology is safe, with the self-driving vehicles far less likely to hit pedestrians or bicyclists than human drivers. The company also says its newest system incorporates engineering geared toward operating in harsher winter climates.