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Author: Barry Pickard
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Ever wondered what it's like to ride in a self-driving, autonomous taxi? Well, read on and discover this unique experience in the vibrant city of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Unfamiliar with Ann Arbor? Then picture this: the scent of fresh coffee wafting from local cafes, the sound of leaves rustling in the breeze along the Huron River, and the sight of historic buildings standing proudly against the skyline. This isn't your typical travel destination. Ann Arbor, known for its rich history and the prestigious University of Michigan, is a city where innovation meets tradition.
Our main adventure for the day was to hop into an autonomous taxi (also known as a robotaxi) operated by May Mobility. Ann Arbor may seem an unlikely place for such technology, but besides its charming streets and lively arts scene, this lovely city is also a hub for technological advancement. It's here that May Mobility has chosen to test their state-of-the-art autonomous taxis.
Our family’s journey to Ann Arbor was part of an epic road trip that began in the windy city of Chicago and meandered through the Midwest to Cadiz, Ohio, the birthplace of Hollywood legend Clark Gable. This adventure was not just about the destinations but the stories and memories we created along the way. The travel party consisted of myself, my spirited five-year-old son, and my parents, both young at heart at 79 years old. From the skyscrapers of Chicago to the home of autonomous car innovation, and finally to the historical charm of Cadiz, each stop was a chapter in our family’s summer saga, filled with discovery, laughter, and the simple joy of being on the open road together.
Planning an independent trip to Ann Arbor?
All information in this post is based on my own experience travelling through Ann Arbor, backed by extensive research to bring you everything you need to know to have your own amazing experience.
Don’t forget that Tailor-Made Itineraries delights in creating bespoke self-guided tours. So, if visiting any of these attractions in Ann Arbor appeals to you, reach out to me by email. I would be more than happy to design a self-guided tour around your requirements incorporating the best things to do in Ann Arbor, or indeed, a general tour of the state of Michigan.
A Family Day Out in Ann Arbor
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Before we were to have our autonomous adventure, however, we were going to complete our presidential odyssey. If you read my previous family day out post in Grand Rapids, you will know that we visited the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, and now we completed the set by visiting the library, which is located in the North Campus of the University of Michigan. Previous presidents have combined their museum and library, but Ford was unique in splitting them. I also find it an amazing fact that Ford was the only person to have served as president without being elected to either the presidency or the vice presidency!
There was less to see than at the museum, but the library still gave a fascinating insight into the 38th President of the United States. The library contains the Ford family papers, but it also has a number of interesting displays on general view as a permanent exhibit, with over a 100 documents and photos on show, plus a very informative biographical film.
Tailor-Made Top Tips:
Take note that the library is not open during the weekend, and is only accessed Monday through Friday, from 08:45 to 16:45.
The admission and parking are free, which is a nice bonus!
May Mobility Ann Arbor
As someone who's always on the lookout for unique travel experiences, I couldn't resist the opportunity to try May Mobility’s self-driving taxis myself. It was definitely an experience to remember. This cutting-edge company, which was established in 2017 and backed by Toyota and BMW, is transforming the way we think about transportation, and we were thrilled to experience this first-hand. May Mobility have delivered on-demand rides to a number of communities across the US and Japan, but it seems that Ann Arbor has been their primary base of operations.
Robotaxi App
After parking our hire car, we headed into the heart of the city, and, using the May Mobility Ann Arbor app, which I had downloaded previously, I was able to hail a robotaxi. If you have used Uber, then you will find this robotaxi app a similar booking experience.
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There are set pick up / drop off stops throughout central Ann Arbor, eighteen in total. This is currently a little limiting, but the stops cover most of the city’s landmarks, at least the ones a traveller would want to visit.
Currently, the May Mobility Ann Arbor autonomous taxis have a safety driver in place, which is really more to give the passengers a bit of confidence in the technology. So, after a quick welcome to our safety driver, I scanned the QR code on the tablet in the interior and prepared to set off.
Our Maiden Autonomous Taxi Ride
For my first trip, I was riding with my dad, who I think I had inherited my interest in technology from (it couldn’t have been my mum, as she is still struggling to turn on her smartphone!). We were picked up by the cutely named 'Makeba' (the cars in May Mobility's fleet have their own names!). I had hoped we could have all joined the same ride, but you need to provide your own child’s travel seat. Instead of lugging around the car seat, we decided to have two sets of journeys – one with my dad and myself, and another with my mum and myself. Ythan was unconcerned about missing out on a robotaxi drive, and more concerned about playing with his toy cars!
I had watched plenty of videos from passengers riding in autonomous taxis, with this service being available through a number of companies like Waymo (backed by Google) and Zoox (backed by Amazon), across several US cities. I had also been able to see for my own eyes Cruise robotaxis (General Motors), indeed, there were so many autonomous taxis in San Francisco when I visited in 2022 that I was taken aback. So, I knew I what to expect and that I had nothing to fear. And right enough, the journey was smooth and measured, with the occasional obstruction being easily avoided.
Waymo autonomous taxis San Francisco
Robotaxi Trials
I had been a little confused as to why Ann Arbor had been chosen for such an extensive autonomous vehicle trial. Granted, it is only 40 miles or so from Ann Arbor to Detroit, the traditional home of American motor manufacturing, but this city is not like the other test grounds in the US. Other autonomous vehicle manufacturers had decided to go with areas that have wide, quiet and forgiving roads, such as Chandler, in Phoenix, Arizona (a nice safe bet for testing), or with areas that have difficult, uncompromising roads, such as San Francisco (if autonomous vehicles can work here, they can work anywhere!). But Ann Arbor didn’t seem to fit this mold. All became apparent, however, as we drove through the centre.
Student Obstacle Course
Anyone who visits the US soon realises that the car is king, and if you are a pedestrian, you stick to the sidewalk (if there is one!) and wait for the green man, with jaywalking being unadvisable. But here in Ann Arbor, you have individuals and groups of students seemingly blindly walking out onto the road, falsely assuming that every vehicle will see them and stop. We even had a skateboarder leave the sidewalk and ride along the road in front of our robotaxi for a hundred or so metres blissfully unaware that he was holding up traffic! But May Mobility’s robotaxi took all this in its stride, without getting flustered or frustrated like I would have had I been driving!
Venue Market and Café
For the first trip, we booked the autonomous vehicle to take us from State Street, near the Nickels Arcade, to the Venue Market and Café just off the South Industrial Highway. The reason for this destination was two-fold – it was one of the longest drives between the pick-up / drop off points that May Mobility offers, and my dad just loves his cups of tea! So, after enjoying a drink at the hip Venue Cafe, we booked our futuristic drive back to the city centre and arrived safely, having been chauffered by 'Mitzi'.
Round 2
It was then my mum’s turn to join me on another autonomous journey, this time in 'Metheven'. This was a shorter route and took us from State Street to the Hands-on Museum. By now, I was a pro at this autonomous driving, with the previous excitement and awe, being replaced by a feeling that this was just an ordinary drive through the city. We had a brief walk around the block, then booked our return journey on 'Mayble' to relieve my dad of the baby-sitting duties.
This had definitely been an exciting taste of the future. Since this trip to Ann Arbor, autonomous vehicle testing has been spreading to other US cities, and even here in Scotland, where we now have the world’s first autonomous bus, plying its trade across the Forth Road Bridge!
Tailor-Made Top Tips:
When downloading the app, make sure you choose May Mobility Ann Arbor and not the one simply called May Mobility.
Rides are currently free, but only operate between Monday and Friday, from 14:00 to 20:00.
May Mobility now also operates a wheelchair accessible taxi, which, to my knowledge, may be a first in the US.
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Things to Do in Ann Arbor
After our autonomous adventures, it was now time to continue checking out the Ann Arbor attractions. Firstly, we meandered through the Nickels Arcade, a beautiful, covered shopping lane that wouldn’t look out of place in Paris or London. Built in 1918, it is easy to see why it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The campus of the University of Michigan is a joy to walk round, with imposing Greek Revival buildings, mixed with more contemporary architecture, and all with an energy and a buzz resonating around them as the students go back and forth.
The timing of our road trip necessitated a Monday visit to Ann Arbor. This was unfortunate, because the various museums of the city are closed on this day of the week (we could have visited on the Sunday, but this would have meant missing out in May Mobility’s autonomous vehicles). Instead, our exploration of the city centre only included a look at the museum entrances! Based on this superficial inspection, however, the likes of the University of Michigan Museum of Art and the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology look like top things to do in Ann Arbor. Never mind, it's a good excuse for us to come back to this enchanting Michigan gem and experience more of the Ann Arbor attractions.
Hotels in Ann Arbor Michigan
Many of the wide selection of hotel can be found around the municipal airport, with the likes of the Courtyard by Marriott Ann Arbor and the Holiday Inn & Suites Ann Arbor being handily placed if you are stepping off a flight.
However, if you would prefer to choose from downtown Ann Arbor Hotels, you shouldn’t look much further that the Bell Tower Hotel, or perhaps the Graduate Ann Arbor for a touch of luxury.
Click on the underlined weblinks above to review these hotels and make your reservation.
Conclusion
So, if you're curious about autonomous vehicles or looking for an interesting family day out, Ann Arbor ticks all the boxes. You’ll enjoy the scenic beauty and historical landmarks, while also getting a glimpse of the future. Make sure to explore what this wonderful city has to offer! And with there only being 40 miles between Ann Arbor to Detroit, you can make an interesting extended trip to this southeast corner of Michigan.
Related Blog Posts
If you would like more ideas for family days out in US cities, please view the Tailor-Made Itineraries posts below:
Comment below and let us know what your favourite things to do in Ann Arbor was.
Don’t forget that Tailor-Made Itineraries delights in creating bespoke self-guided tours. So, if visiting any of these attractions in Ann Arbor appeals to you, reach out to me by email. I would be more than happy to design a self-guided tour around your requirements incorporating the best things to do in Ann Arbor, or indeed, a general tour of the state of Michigan.
Join me next time on my adventures when I discover Detroit, Michigan. Tailor-Made Itineraries posts every two weeks, and you can subscribe to the latest blog and newsletter here. Until then, happy reading and safe travels.
Barry
Contact Me: tailoritineraries@gmail.com
Tailor-Made Itineraries creates one-of-a-kind bespoke self-guided travel itineraries for adventurous and curious travellers.
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Ann Arbor Map
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