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Hundreds of Chicago residents have signed an online petition to ban food delivery robot Who are blocking the city’s footpaths and hitting pedestrians.
“We’re getting reports of collisions with people, with pets, with cyclists, reports of obstructions,” said Josh Robertson, who started the petition. told ABC7.
Boxy is seen in the viral video robotsoperated by Companies like Coco, Serve and UberWalking around town is often hampered by Illinois’ harsh weather and getting stuck in snowdrifts.
Others have reported close interactions with food carriers.
“The other day I was walking, and one hit me right in the back of my leg. And that’s not pretty,” said Katy Collins, who works at a restaurant in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, where robots are becoming a common sight.
robertson’s petition There have been calls to stop the “sidewalk-robot program” by chicago The Department of Transportation and Business Affairs and Consumer Protection releases more information on robot safety.
It also calls for public hearings on the impact of robots on communities and local jobs, as well as the establishment of clear rules governing the use of robots as delivery vessels. So far, more than 2,500 people have signed it.
In the initial release, CDOT said they are “assessing whether these delivery robots can be used to safely replace vehicle trips without inconvenienceing other sidewalk users.”
According to BACP, the pilot program will not continue beyond May 2027 without action by the City Council.
Robertson said CBS News That he was initially a fan of robots. “I’m a Star Wars fan. My initial reaction was, ‘Finally, droids are here,'” he told the outlet, before recalling a personal experience with one.
“It was a vehicle that was coming towards us. It had cameras, its bright headlights were shining at full strength and we instinctively moved out of its way,” he said. “People do this out of reflex when there are people coming towards them in the same lane, but this was a pedestrian in a pedestrian zone.”
“Sidewalks must be accessible to everyone; they must be safe. They cannot be compromised,” he said.
However, Vignesh Ram, who works for Serv Robotics, one of two companies offering delivery bots in Chicago, says the company is open to feedback and there are still advantages to using the devices — including the environmental impact.
“At the end of the day, robots carry 1/3,000th the kinetic energy of a car. They travel more slowly. They don’t take the same risk as delivery cars,” Ram told ABC7.