The ride-hailing service Uber today announced that a small fleet of self-driving cars is  now serving customers in Pittsburgh along with its more typical fleet of privately-owned vehicles and their drivers.

At the same time, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced he also wants on-street testing of self-driving cars in Beantown.

Uber said it is inviting “our most loyal Pittsburgh customers to experience the future first.

“If a Self-Driving Uber is available, we’ll send it along with a safety driver up front to make sure the ride goes smoothly. Otherwise it’s uberX as usual,” the company said in a blog. “This pilot is a big step forward. Real-world testing is critical to the success of this technology. And creating a viable alternative to individual car ownership is important to the future of cities.”

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