My neighborhood is pushing back against sidewalk delivery robots. The fight's coming to your town next

"It's easy to be charmed by the first delivery robot you see. I was driving with my kids in our Chicago neighborhood when I spotted one out the window last year. It was a cheerful pink color, with an orange flag fluttering at about eye level and four black-and-white wheels. It looked almost like an overgrown toy. When I told the kids that it was labeled "Coco," they started waving and giggling as it crossed the street."

"Josh Robertson, who lives around the corner from me with his wife and two young children, was unnerved enough by a standoff with a robot that he decided to start a petition: "No Sidewalk Bots." Thus far, more than 3,300 people have signed, with nearly one-third of those submitting an incident report. Through the incident field, Robertson has heard about feet being run over-a Serve robot weighs 220 pounds and can carry 15 gallons-near-collisions, unwelcome noise, blocked entryways, and more."

"At first, my interactions with the robots were mostly polite. One slowed to a stop while my dog cocked his head and sniffed curiously. Another waited patiently while we crossed Lincoln Avenue on our daily walk home from school, giving my stroller right of way on the ramp at the curb. In principle, they seemed like an improvement over double-parked delivery drivers and careening e-bikes."

Delivery robots began appearing in Chicago neighborhoods, often painted in bright colors and given personal names. Many interactions were benign or helpful: robots paused for pedestrians, waited at curb ramps, and entertained children. Some models carry heavy loads and feature robust wheels and lighting. Several residents reported negative experiences including near-collisions, blocked entryways, noise, and at least one injury requiring stitches. A local resident started a 'No Sidewalk Bots' petition that has gathered over 3,300 signatures and many incident reports. The presence of competing robot companies has increased variety and visibility of sidewalk robots.

Read at Fast Company