Stories

Wed, 17 Jun 2026

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 'We had to get out of the way': The backlash over delivery robots

As the delivery vehicles increasing take to US streets, bans and protest groups are springing up.

* Autonomous delivery robots have become a common sight in some cities worldwide, but their presence has also raised concerns about pedestrian safety and traffic management.
* In Chicago, resident Josh Robertson launched a campaign against the robots after he had to dodge one on the sidewalk with his family.
* Some local authorities, such as San Francisco and Toronto, have banned or restricted the use of delivery robots due to safety concerns.
* Robertson's petition has gathered over 4,400 signatures calling for the robots to be suspended until safety tests are carried out and clear rules are set in place.
* Similar concerns have emerged in Glendale, California, where the local council is considering a temporary ban on the use of delivery robots.
* In the UK, some locals have vandalized Uber Eats delivery robots in Sheffield, while trade union boss Alex Marshall has expressed concern about the impact on jobs and precarious workers.
* Analysts believe that autonomous delivery robots are set for a major boom, with 2.1 million expected to be in operation worldwide by 2034.