Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 marked a year since Waymo launched its public self-driving ride-hailing service, Waymo One, in the Metro Phoenix area.

“We now have thousands of people using it in their everyday lives across the Metro Phoenix area and have enjoyed seeing how they rely on the Waymo Driver to get them where they need to be, whether that’s work, the grocery store, or a fun night out,” Waymo says.

In recognition of the one year anniversary of the service launch, Waymo has released several figures regarding the service. Since Jan. 2019, Waymo has tripled the number of weekly rides. Currently, it has more than 1,500 active riders a month. And, since the launch of its rider programs in 217, Waymo has surpassed 100,000 total rides served.

According to Waymo, a majority of the Waymo One rides that have taken place over the last year have occurred in the late afternoon into the evening, for activities such as commuting to work and school, running errands and visiting family and friends.

Over the last year, Waymo has added a number of features to its vehicles to enhance the rider experience. These features include music, a dark mode that makes screens dimmer at night, and a zoom feature that allows riders to take a closer look on the screen at what the car is seeing.

While the service has been largely successful, Waymo isn’t resting on its laurels. One area that the company has focused on improving is pickups and drop-offs. Waymo notes that it is has to make sure that its pickup and drop-off locations are precise and well-communicated to riders since there is no driver to call, text, or wave to. To make this process smoother, Waymo says that it has made it easier for riders to fine-tune their pickups and drop-offs in the app, while also improving its recommended pickup and drop-off spots.

Waymo has also announced that its Waymo app is now available on the App store, allowing all U.S. iPhone users to search and download the Waymo app from the App Store and join the waitlist to ride. Once accepted for the waitlist, those located in Waymo’s Metro Phoenix service area will be able to hail a Waymo ride around town.

Waymo has also added several new features to its app. To make it faster and easier to request rides, the company has simplified its ordering flow. Additionally, to make it easier for riders to find their car at pickup, Waymo has also added an option to honk the car’s horn from the app. This is especially beneficial for individuals with low vision.