Waymo Braking For Pigeons in San Francisco

Cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users: Waymo robotaxis keep an eye on them and brake for them or navigate around them.

During a trip on January 5, 2026, at around 11:40 a.m. in rainy San Francisco, a flock of pigeons was sitting in the middle of the road as we approached in the Waymo. The Waymo slowed down, the pigeons flew up, only to land again a few meters further on. The Waymo stopped briefly to make sure that when the pigeons flew up again, they were no longer on the road and could not become roadkill.

The video was taken by Franz Steiger, who was sitting in the passenger seat and thus had the best view.

This article was also published in German.