San Francisco transportation officials have officially restricted autonomous vehicles in several busy waterfront neighborhoods during Fleet Week, which runs from October 9 to 11, 2026. At the same time, the city is increasing public transit service to accommodate larger crowds and prevent severe traffic gridlock.
The new measures specifically target Waymo and Zoox robotaxis. City officials designed the temporary rules to prevent a repeat of the traffic disruptions that followed the city’s July Fourth fireworks celebration and previous high-profile transit blockages.
Geofencing Boundaries and Restricted Zones
According to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), the restrictions cover a large portion of the Marina District, The Embarcadero, and the entire Presidio. The geofencing measures operate daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Traditional ride-hailing services, including Uber, Lyft, and standard taxis, remain completely exempt from these boundary rules and can operate normally throughout the city. Designated pick-up and drop-off boundaries for autonomous vehicles have been strictly set outside the main event zones.
Specific Streets Subject to Robotaxi Limits
- Lyon Street between Marina Boulevard and Lombard Street
- Lombard Street between Lyon Street and Leavenworth Street
- North Point Street between Leavenworth Street and The Embarcadero
- The Embarcadero between Bay Street and Fisherman’s Wharf
- Van Ness Avenue between Lombard Street and Broadway
- Bay Street between Leavenworth Street and The Embarcadero
- The Embarcadero between Bay Street and Broadway
- Entire area within The Presidio
Addressing Past Gridlock and Autonomous Vehicle Scrutiny
The SFMTA stated this marks the first time the city has imposed geofencing specifically for Fleet Week. However, officials have successfully used similar approaches at other large-scale city events, such as the Outside Lands music festival.
Autonomous vehicle companies have faced growing scrutiny from city leaders following incidents where robotaxis stalled in travel lanes during major events. City officials noted that during the July Fourth celebrations, stalled autonomous vehicles contributed heavily to congestion, blocked Muni shuttle buses, and delayed emergency response vehicles.
“They cannot cross into that digital boundary, so they cannot go past Lombard,” said Viktoriya Wise, SFMTA’s Streets Director, detailing the strict geofence perimeter enforced during the weekend festivities.
Waymo representatives stated they collaborated closely with the City of San Francisco, the SFMTA, and local police to voluntarily coordinate on which exact areas to avoid and during what active hours.
Public Transit Boosted for Fleet Week Visitors
With thousands of spectators pouring into San Francisco for the Blue Angels air show and Fleet Week events, city transportation agencies are strongly urging visitors to leave private vehicles at home. Public transit agencies across the Bay Area have stepped up operations to handle the influx of travelers.
The SFMTA added extra Muni vehicles to serve popular viewing locations along the eastern and northern waterfronts. Meanwhile, BART is running longer trains all weekend, and regional ferry operators have scheduled extra sailings to ease congestion and help visitors bypass downtown parking challenges.
