5 ms·

Robots that cannot share sidewalks with humans, including humans in wheelchairs, should be banned from sidewalks. Full stop. End of discussion. They can use the

Robots that cannot share sidewalks with humans, including humans in wheelchairs, should be banned from sidewalks. Full stop. End of discussion. They can use the streets proper if they want to. I'm sure there is some way to formalize that using ADA sidewalk requirements or something similar.

Grombobulous 4mo ago
I really don’t understand how a four wheeled self-driving powered vehicle is allowed to drive on the sidewalk when riding a bicycle on the sidewalk in that same city is illegal.
- rcxdude 4mo ago
  Probably under the same regulations that allow a powered wheelchair on the sidewalk. A low maximum speed makes up for a lot of things. But they should have a plan for encountering a wheelchair user.
  - Grombobulous 4mo ago
    Perhaps, but I imagine those regulations are written around an actual person being involved.
- slyall 4mo ago
  Because traffic laws work for cars and pedestrians. Anything else in between in fuzzy and hard to define or legislate
- lovich 4mo ago
  Because corporations have more rights than the common man and these robots are the property of corporations. If you as a regular person cause some sort of damage to a corporation you’ll be arrested and locked up while they determine the legality and if there was an actual illegal damage. If these corporations cause regular people problems then it’s “oopsies, you can sue us in court with your far smaller resources in a system that is heavily incentivized for those with more resources” and no equivalent corporate entity is getting the equivalent of cash bail.
  - nisegami 4mo ago
    The law protects but does not bind corporations while binding but not protecting individuals.
Hizonner 4mo ago
> They can use the streets proper if they want to. How about no? They'll block traffic there, too.
- fouc 4mo ago
  Vehicles have been far too dominant in city planning, it's probably time to re-prioritize, make it look more like Netherlands or some other European countries perhaps. I suggest a priority order somewhat like: pedestrians > bicyclists > delivery bots > vehicles currently in America I suppose it probably looks more like this currently: vehicles > delivery bots > pedestrians.
  - patrick451 4mo ago
    The vast majority of Americans prefer roads being dedicated to vehicles. I live in a town that is stealing drivable roadway for bike lanes. It's a total wast of tax dollars. There is never anybody in this bike lanes. Because even in this flaming blue, bike friendly city, people drive because it's just better.
    - ai-astrologer 4mo ago
      Often it feels unsafe to bike on roadways, so people just avoid doing so. And most bike lanes on roadways have trash in them and are basically a glorified shoulder.
    - wffurr 4mo ago
      "Stealing" as in having a public process for proposed street designs that you can't be bothered to attend. "There is never anybody in this bike lanes" you don't see them because they aren't stuck in traffic like you. Also the city has to build out a full network of high quality bike facilities to convince a bunch of skeptics and scaredy cats to get out of their cars and enjoy life and actually get somewhere instead of just be traffic all the time.
      - Hizonner 4mo ago
lesostep 4mo ago
There should be some some way to sue for unlawful restriction of access to public infrastructure. As far as I'm aware, you can't just put a border on a sidewalk. Bots that stop you from using sidewalk are essentially that. A border on a public infrastructure put there by some company.
- stevenicr 4mo ago
  close to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trespass_to_chattels https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trespass_to_chattels ? If blocking access to your store, your car, etc. this kicks in maybe.

Grombobulous 4mo ago

I really don’t understand how a four wheeled self-driving powered vehicle is allowed to drive on the sidewalk when riding a bicycle on the sidewalk in that same city is illegal.

rcxdude 4mo ago
Probably under the same regulations that allow a powered wheelchair on the sidewalk. A low maximum speed makes up for a lot of things. But they should have a plan for encountering a wheelchair user.
- Grombobulous 4mo ago
  Perhaps, but I imagine those regulations are written around an actual person being involved.
slyall 4mo ago
Because traffic laws work for cars and pedestrians. Anything else in between in fuzzy and hard to define or legislate
lovich 4mo ago
Because corporations have more rights than the common man and these robots are the property of corporations. If you as a regular person cause some sort of damage to a corporation you’ll be arrested and locked up while they determine the legality and if there was an actual illegal damage. If these corporations cause regular people problems then it’s “oopsies, you can sue us in court with your far smaller resources in a system that is heavily incentivized for those with more resources” and no equivalent corporate entity is getting the equivalent of cash bail.
- nisegami 4mo ago
  The law protects but does not bind corporations while binding but not protecting individuals.

Hizonner 4mo ago

> They can use the streets proper if they want to. How about no? They'll block traffic there, too.

fouc 4mo ago
Vehicles have been far too dominant in city planning, it's probably time to re-prioritize, make it look more like Netherlands or some other European countries perhaps. I suggest a priority order somewhat like: pedestrians > bicyclists > delivery bots > vehicles currently in America I suppose it probably looks more like this currently: vehicles > delivery bots > pedestrians.
- patrick451 4mo ago
  The vast majority of Americans prefer roads being dedicated to vehicles. I live in a town that is stealing drivable roadway for bike lanes. It's a total wast of tax dollars. There is never anybody in this bike lanes. Because even in this flaming blue, bike friendly city, people drive because it's just better.
  - ai-astrologer 4mo ago
    Often it feels unsafe to bike on roadways, so people just avoid doing so. And most bike lanes on roadways have trash in them and are basically a glorified shoulder.
  - wffurr 4mo ago
    "Stealing" as in having a public process for proposed street designs that you can't be bothered to attend. "There is never anybody in this bike lanes" you don't see them because they aren't stuck in traffic like you. Also the city has to build out a full network of high quality bike facilities to convince a bunch of skeptics and scaredy cats to get out of their cars and enjoy life and actually get somewhere instead of just be traffic all the time.
    - Hizonner 4mo ago

lesostep 4mo ago

There should be some some way to sue for unlawful restriction of access to public infrastructure. As far as I'm aware, you can't just put a border on a sidewalk. Bots that stop you from using sidewalk are essentially that. A border on a public infrastructure put there by some company.

stevenicr 4mo ago
close to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trespass_to_chattels https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trespass_to_chattels ? If blocking access to your store, your car, etc. this kicks in maybe.