Waymo Robotaxi Drives Through Denver Farmers Market During Setup

A Waymo robotaxi drove through the upscale South Pearl Street Farmers Market in Denver on Sunday morning, navigating through vendor stalls shortly after setup began.

The incident occurred around 8:15 a.m. as approximately 160 vendors were in the process of establishing their stands. The driverless blue vehicle entered a closed road and proceeded through the market area.

Eyewitnesses captured the event on camera, showing the Waymo stopping briefly after detecting people nearby and flashing its turn signals before continuing slowly. The vehicle eventually exited the market.

Organizers stated that while one side of the street had a "Road Closed" sign, the other remained open for vendor access. The Waymo reportedly followed vendor traffic through the food truck area. "It followed that traffic, went slow, and then made its way on out at Arkansas and kept going," Nicole Jarman, production director for the farmers market, told local media.

While no injuries or damage were reported, vendors expressed concern about safety. Market organizers walked ahead of the vehicle to alert vendors and crew members.

A Waymo spokesperson told The Denver Post that the vehicle was en route to a destination on South Pearl Street. "When the car entered the market, it quickly identified the situation and maneuvered out of the market area," the spokesperson said.

Waymo launched its driverless ride-hailing services in Denver on September 1. The company was previously involved in a chain-reaction collision in Denver on August 27, where two vehicles struck a stationary Waymo car from behind. Denver police determined the Waymo vehicle was not at fault in that incident.