Chicago, Toronto, and Glendale push to restrict sidewalk delivery robots amid safety concerns. The regulatory patchwork threatens Uber's rollout and the projected 2.1 million robot fleet by 2034.
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Chicago residents are pushing to suspend delivery robots city-wide after collisions and near-misses. San Francisco and Toronto have already restricted the vehicles. Uber uses Starship Technologies robots in some US cities for Uber Eats.
John Roberts, a Chicago resident, said he stepped aside for a robot while walking with his family. "It felt a little off – being on the walking strip and having to get out of the way," he recounted. His petition to suspend the robots across Chicago has gathered 4,400 signatures. He cited reports of collisions, injuries, and robots blocking emergency vehicles.
In Glendale, California, council member Ardy Kassakhian described a "stand-off" between a robot and an elderly person. Broken-down machines have caused obstructions on narrow sidewalks. The council is considering a temporary ban, surprising operators who never sought permission. "We need operating rules, insurance requirements, and accountability," Kassakhian said.
The backlash extends to jobs. Alex Marshall of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain warned that delivery drivers would "be fighting for their lives against these pointless robots" if the service expands nationwide. Uber Eats vehicles have been vandalized in Sheffield.
Despite the pushback, analysts project the fleet will grow. A Transforma Insight report published last summer forecasts 2.1 million delivery robots in operation globally by 2034. Starship Technologies, the supplier used by Uber, says the robots are safe and polite. "They've slotted into everyday life in loads of communities," said European operations director Danny Pass.
For Uber, the regulatory patchwork poses a direct risk to its autonomous delivery rollout. Each new city ban narrows the addressable market. The Glendale council will vote on a temporary ban in the coming weeks. Roberts' petition awaits a Chicago city council hearing.
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