Disability

Are the current robotaxis a boon or a bust for people with disabilities? And are people with disabilities once again being co-opted by others?

SF Examiner – SF nonprofit grateful for Waymo partnership — but there’s a catch

SF Examiner reports on how Waymo is using a charity as a cynical marketing ploy. They are using Waymo vehicles to deliver food for a charity. Of course to deliver food you need a human driver. If Waymo really wants to make a charitable contribution, they should simply donate money directly to the organization.
Read MoreSF Examiner – SF nonprofit grateful for Waymo partnership — but there’s a catch

SF Standard – Activists gather in Chinatown to demand immediate ban on self-driving taxis in California

A coalition of San Francisco residents, safety advocates and workers is demanding Gov. Gavin Newsom immediately ban self-driving taxis, accusing the companies that operate them of endangering public safety. Waymo counters with statements from disability groups (to whom Waymo donated generously). Taxi drivers explain that people with disabilities often need a driver to help.
Read MoreSF Standard – Activists gather in Chinatown to demand immediate ban on self-driving taxis in California

SF Standard – How Cruise Secured Support From Local Groups as It Pushed To Expand Robotaxis

Article from SF Standard by Joshua Bote. Covers how Cruise and Waymo spent a great deal of effort and money to went over support from local groups, including disability groups. It worked, and the groups continue to support robotaxis even after the numerous problems they have caused.
Read MoreSF Standard – How Cruise Secured Support From Local Groups as It Pushed To Expand Robotaxis
A group of a dozen adults, including some people using white canes, manual and power wheelchairs, cross a sidewalk in Seattle Washington. The sky is grey and everyone is bundled up in warm clothes. There are apartment buildings on either side of the street, and trees without leaves.

Robotaxis Won’t Get Us There, So Let’s Stop Being Used to Sell a Future that Doesn’t Serve Us

Robotaxis won’t get us there, so let’s stop being used to sell a future that doesn’t serve us. This article is from Alice Wong’s DisabilityVisibilityProject.com where you can also find many other articles on disability issues.
Read MoreRobotaxis Won’t Get Us There, So Let’s Stop Being Used to Sell a Future that Doesn’t Serve Us

SF Chronicle – Robotaxis are good for disabled people, advocates say. But are wheelchair users being thrown under the (autonomous) bus?

Article from SF Chronicle by Soleil Ho. Covers how Cruise and Waymo actively lobbied and funded disability organizations to get support for robotaxis. But it appears this was just a cynical ploy.
Read MoreSF Chronicle – Robotaxis are good for disabled people, advocates say. But are wheelchair users being thrown under the (autonomous) bus?