San Francisco Activists Stage ‘Week of Cone’ Protests Against Robotaxis

In San Francisco, a group of safe streets activists has discovered a simple yet effective method of disabling Cruise and Waymo robotaxis, stalling the advance of these non-human workers. This decentralized group encourages placing traffic cones on the vehicles' hoods, a prank that has rapidly gone viral on social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok, in a protest dubbed the “Week of Cone.”

The protest occurs just before a hearing likely to greenlight the expansion of Robotaxi services by Waymo and Cruise in the city. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is poised to approve this expansion on July 13, despite mounting opposition from city agencies and residents. Critics argue that the fleets of autonomous vehicles (AVs) have blocked traffic, public transit, and even emergency responders.

They are calling on the CPUC to adopt a cautious approach, suggesting the establishment of workshops, gathering more data, and restricting robotaxi deployment downtown and during peak hours. Notable opponents include the San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance and the Alliance for Independent Workers, who argue that the rise of robotaxis threatens jobs in the taxi and ride-hail industry.

Key concerns include:

• Intelligent Agents in the form of robotaxis have been known to impede general traffic, public transit, and emergency vehicles.
• An accident involving a Waymo autonomous vehicle resulted in the death of a dog.
• AV footage has been used by police in solving crimes, raising privacy concerns.
• There's a significant worry that local streets are being designed more for these digital employees and less for humans or traditional transit systems.

While Waymo has criticized the pranksters' tactics as vandalism, others support this active protest against the imposition of still-evolving autonomous vehicle technology on the public. However, it's unclear how effective these guerrilla tactics will influence the CPUC’s decision. Despite the protests, the CPUC seems ready to approve the program, citing sufficient backing from a range of stakeholders.

Cruise maintains a strong safety record, arguing that their autonomous drivers have had 73% fewer collisions with a significant risk of injury compared to human drivers. This controversy underscores the debate around intelligent agents as non-human workers, their impacts on city infrastructure and employment, and the role of regulatory bodies in shaping the future of autonomous transportation.

Reference: [1].