UPDATE: Public test rides driverless shuttle

UPDATE:

On Thursday, Lincolnites got to be passengers of a driverless shuttle.

"The ride overall was very smooth," said Jason Headrick of Lincoln.  "And it was interesting to hear some of the technologies that are at play there and how that can eventually end up here in Lincoln and how the residents can be able to use that."

"Even though there wasn’t a driver and it was a driverless vehicle, there was still someone there to help and make sure things went okay, so that was an interesting part to me," said Hannah Sunderman of Lincoln.

It was made possible by a $100,000 grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies and a recent bill signed into law allowing self–driving vehicles to be tested in Nebraska.

And the city wasted no time on starting the tests, taking surveys from riders.

"We got a series of questions we’ve been asking them about the route that the shuttle might take in a downtown pilot project," said Assistant Director of Transportation Lonnie Burklund.  "Getting an understanding of if it’s fearful to folks to ride the shuttle or not…what the comfort level is, the amenities on board."

Those we talked to sound excited about possibly having driverless shuttles in Lincoln’s transit system.

"I, personally, am ready to get on and ride around the Haymarket and downtown right now," Headrick said.

"I think that it’s a really good option for both the city of Lincoln as well as where the whole country and world will go," Sunderman said.

The city will take the survey data and apply for another Bloomberg grant of $1 million to $5 million.

They said they’ll know around October if they get it.

Again, this was just the first of several days you can ride in a driverless shuttle.

For more information, including how to sign up for a ride visit: shuttle.lincoln.ne.gov
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The rides are taking place on a closed course at Innovation Campus.

They’re testing out an electric shuttle and each ride lasts around five minutes.

Many riders were impressed by the experience.

"The ride overall was very smooth," said Jason Headrick of Lincoln.  "And it was interesting to hear some of the technologies that are at play there and how that can eventually end up here in Lincoln and how the residents can be able to use that."

This city says this shuttle is one of three or four models they’re looking at.

They want to know if riders have any concerns after riding the shuttle.