Delivery robots have taken over Los Angeles, spreading across the city's sidewalks and sparking a mix of reactions from residents. The region, already known for its lack of walkability, now faces new obstacles as fleets of autonomous boxes on wheels navigate pedestrians and outdoor dining areas.
Rapid Expansion of Delivery Bots
Serve Robotics, a leading company behind food-delivery bots, deployed another 500 robots in 40 neighborhoods across LA this month, up from just two neighborhoods in 2023. Coco Robotics, founded at UCLA in 2020, operates about 300 robots citywide and plans to expand further. This growth has led to concerns about sidewalk congestion and safety.
Mixed Feelings Among Residents
Along Sunset Boulevard, workers and residents expressed mixed feelings. At Pazzo Gelato in Silverlake, barista Lula Ochoa described the robots as a minor nuisance, blocking foot traffic and causing congestion. At Millie's Cafe, a staff member who wished to remain anonymous said, "We hate them. They're blocking the way and they're hitting people." Across the street at Kreation, staff worried about job losses for drivers and challenges for wheelchair users.
At the wine bar Seco, executive chef David Potes noted that robots often get stuck in crowds, and when they finally get through, people cheer. His friends "both pity them and hate them," he said. During recent rainstorms, a delivery robot struggling to make its rounds went viral, with one onlooker commenting, "She's doing her best, you guys."
Safety and Job Concerns
While robots do not emit exhaust or add to road traffic, they have been involved in some dangerous incidents. A New Jersey cyclist reported being hit by an Avride robot, suffering a head injury and broken collarbone. A robot also shattered a bus shelter glass wall in Chicago. In LA, a Waymo collided with a delivery robot in 2024, though neither was damaged.
Job losses for delivery drivers are another concern. Coco Robotics' co-founder Zach Rash noted that robots are particularly useful during inclement weather when driving is less safe, but this also reduces demand for human drivers.
Efforts to Manage Robot Integration
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a "robotability score" to help cities manage robot deployments by respecting existing pedestrian patterns. The score considers factors like foot traffic density and walking behavior. Steven Gehrke, an assistant professor at Northern Arizona University, recommends barring robots from narrow or busy streets and designating special parking areas.
Despite the challenges, some residents accept the robots as part of modern life. Joe McDonough, seated at 33 Taps, compared the growing pains to early railway accidents. "Any new tech is going to have its bugs," he said. Others, like a twentysomething who turned off a robot near 33 Taps, see little social benefit. "LA is already one of the worst cities to be a pedestrian in the world, so we don't need things clogging the sidewalks," Petra noted.
