Title: San Francisco Group Disables Waymo and Cruise Autonomous Cars with Cones in Protest
Subtitle: Safe Street Rebels Advocate for Pedestrian Safety and Public Transit Usage
San Francisco, CA – In a display of protest against autonomous vehicle (AV) companies Waymo and Cruise, a group known as the Safe Street Rebels has taken to placing cones on the cars, effectively disabling them and causing the vehicles to come to a halt.
The group, known for advocating for pedestrian safety and public transit usage, argues that the expanded access granted to AVs on city streets poses a significant risk to residents who never had a say or consented to being used as human guinea pigs. In an interview with a member of the group who requested anonymity, “Expanded and basically unfettered access to city streets is basically a bad idea. Residents never got a chance to have a say in this, never really consented to being used as human guinea pigs.”
Dubbed the “Week of Cone” protest, members of the Safe Street Rebels have been filming themselves placing cones on Waymo and Cruise vehicles in the lead-up to a crucial meeting with the California Public Utilities Commission. The commission will decide whether to allow Cruise and Waymo to expand their services in San Francisco.
The Safe Street Rebels’ campaign serves as a strong message against the continued presence of AVs in San Francisco. The anonymous member expressed their concerns, saying, “As a pedestrian, I am concerned. I see them stop and open their doors in the bike lane. I feel rushed when crossing the street in front of them. If I take the bus, I wonder if it will stall and all 40 of us will be stuck behind it.”
ABC7’s report highlighted previous issues faced by Waymo and Cruise this year. Video footage showed two Waymo cars stalling during the Pride Parade, while the San Francisco Fire Department criticized Cruise for obstructing emergency vehicles.
Responding to ABC7’s inquiry, Waymo condemned the actions, stating that the group’s understanding of AV operations is incorrect. Waymo categorized the placement of cones as vandalism and encouraged law enforcement to address any unwanted or unsafe interference of their vehicles on public roadways.
Cruise, in its response to ABC7, emphasized its contributions to the community, such as providing free rides to late-night service workers, delivering over 2 million meals to food-insecure residents, and collecting food waste from local businesses. The company condemned intentional obstruction of their vehicles, arguing it would hinder their efforts and result in traffic congestion for local residents. Cruise also highlighted their impressive track record of over three million driverless miles without a single fatality or life-threatening injury and mentioned receiving over 40 letters of support for the upcoming expansion vote.
The Safe Street Rebels, however, maintain that their ability to disable AVs with cones underscores the potential risks associated with these vehicles. They argue that even with a “perfect driver,” AVs are still fundamentally unsafe as two-ton metal boxes navigating city streets.
As the debate surrounding the expanded use of AVs in San Francisco continues, the Week of Cone protest serves as a vivid reminder of the ongoing concerns about pedestrian safety and the need for robust public input in these technological advancements.