Politics

Cars, being fast moving and heavy, are quite dangerous. They should be well regulated for safety. But it turns out regulations can be bought and paid for by lobbying money…

Forbes – Buttigieg Seeks Robocar Safety. Here’s How He Should Do It

See full original article by Brad Templeton at Forbes. In the wake of the recent tumultuous period for General Motors’ Cruise robotaxi unit, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigeieg recently declared, “We’re going to do everything we can with the authorities we do have, which are not trivial,” to ensure self-driving vehicles…

Read MoreForbes – Buttigieg Seeks Robocar Safety. Here’s How He Should Do It
Burning Planet

In Which We Find More Evidence the CPUC Is Thoroughly Captured

See original article by Sue Vaughan at Burning Planet, which contains more useful articles about climate change and transportation. The California Public Utilities Commission is now reneging on a possible evaluation of the environmental impacts of Waymos and Cruises – and other commercial autonomous vehicles that may be authorized to…

Read MoreIn Which We Find More Evidence the CPUC Is Thoroughly Captured

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 Standard – Cruise Hired a Lobbyist Close to Newsom. Then a Crash Changed Everything 

Article from the SF Standard by Josh Koehn. Covers how not only did Cruise and Waymo report spending $2.3m to lobby state and local politicians to allow them to use our roads as a testing ground, but Cruise did not report hiring Axiom Advisors, close partners with Governor Newsom, until after key CPUC hearing.

Read MoreSF Standard – Cruise Hired a Lobbyist Close to Newsom. Then a Crash Changed Everything 

The Lever – The Lobbying Surge Behind San Francisco’s Robo-Taxi Mayhem

Driverless taxi companies Cruise and Waymo wined and dined officials and landed a plum regulatory appointment before they scored free rein on San Francisco’s streets. See full original article on The Lever by Freddy Brewster. In the lead-up to California regulators voting earlier this month to allow driverless taxis to…

Read MoreThe Lever – The Lobbying Surge Behind San Francisco’s Robo-Taxi Mayhem

San Francisco seeks reprieve from CPUC decision allowing unfettered autonomous vehicle expansion

San Francisco officials, led by City Attorney David Chiu, have filed a motion to halt the CPUC's decision allowing unchecked expansion of commercial autonomous vehicles (AVs) by Cruise and Waymo. Citing public safety concerns and numerous incidents where AVs interfered with emergency services, the city is seeking a stay while challenging the decision's lack of consideration for safety and environmental impacts in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act.

Read MoreSan Francisco seeks reprieve from CPUC decision allowing unfettered autonomous vehicle expansion

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?