We asked readers whether Chicago should continue to have delivery robots on the city’s streets. Here’s what you said, lightly edited for clarity:
“Yes, because they’re less likely to kill a bystander than an Uber Eats driver staring at their phone behind the wheel.”
— Collin Pearsall
“Chicago should not have delivery robots. These food delivery jobs are typically the types of jobs that our youth would have as they were finishing high school or during the summer. Our kids, and adults for that matter, could benefit from these jobs. It doesn’t seem very smart to allow bots to take over the workforce, no matter how small it starts. Additionally, the property damage will only increase, and soon, more people will be injured too.”
— Dee Crawford
“Delivery robots are part of our future. I support them. There have been very few glitches so far, and as far as I know, no one has been injured. The technology will continue to improve. Within a year or two, I doubt anyone will think twice about them.”
— David Shiner
“Get these nuisances off our sidewalks.”
— Bill Dahl
“Delivery robots and autonomous vehicles are just a way for tech companies to drain money out of Chicago and lay off workers. There is no benefit to the local economy.”
— Mike McMains
“I would take more delivery robots on our sidewalks over the current situation. … Our streets are routinely choked with double-parked delivery drivers. A drive along Lincoln Avenue between Webster and Fullerton any evening of the week is chaos.”
— Tom Stroud
“Sure, any new technology has safety issues. My grandparents said their parents tried to stop the switchover to cars from horses. My grandparents envisioned giant planes crashing into schools and football stadiums. My parents thought microwaves would cook our brains.”
— Linda Gies
“Yes, they’re cute.”
— Valerie Morrow