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Uber Admits To Self-driving Car 'Problem' in Bike Lanes As Safety Concerns Mount (theguardian.com)

Posted by msmash on from the safety-concerns dept.

Uber has admitted that there is a "problem" with the way autonomous vehicles cross bike lanes, raising serious questions about the safety of cyclists days after the company announced it would openly defy California regulators over self-driving vehicles. From a report on The Guardian: An Uber spokeswoman said on Monday that engineers were working to fix a flaw in the programming that advocates feared could have deadly consequences for cyclists. Uber began piloting its self-driving vehicles in its home town of San Francisco last week, despite state officials' declaration that the ride-share company needed special permits to test its technology. On day one, numerous autonomous vehicles -- which have a driver in the front seat who can take control -- were caught running red lights and committing a range of traffic violations. Despite threats of legal action from the department of motor vehicles (DMV) and California's attorney general, Kamala Harris, Uber refused to back down on Friday, claiming its rejection of government authority was "an important issue of principle."

3 of 383 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Depends how you look at it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Make useful bike infrastructure and I'd gladly get out of the way of all the idiot cagers. But until we have that I can't

    And no, sidewalks don't count, they're often illegal to ride on and no where near as ubiquitous as roads. Less than half my commute is covered by them

  2. What the actual fuck? by wwalker · · Score: 4, Interesting

    > claiming its rejection of government authority was "an important issue of principle."

    Which means next time you see a self-driving Uber, feel free to scratch the fuck out of it any way you see fit, break the headlights, or even steal it if you like. Since Uber doesn't recognize the government authority on principal, they must have given up police protection as well.

  3. CA Bike Lane Laws conflict with MI by userw014 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The California law REQUIRES the automobile to USE the bike lane to make the right hand turn.

    Michigan law FORBIDS the automobile from using the bike lane (except to cross it.)

    I can believe other states are even more complicated..