TORONTO — A Toronto committee is pushing for the city to ban some robots and other automated or remote controlled devices from sidewalks, bike paths and pedestrian ways.
The Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee is asking city council to prohibit devices from these spaces that run on anything but muscle power.
The recommendation would ban food delivery devices like the pink, heart-eyed robots Tiny Mile operates in Toronto from sidewalks.
The committee wants the restrictions because it says when these devices are used on sidewalks and other pedestrian ways, they create a dangerous hazard for people with low mobility or low vision, as well as seniors and children.
A motion put forward by committee chair and city councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam suggests $150 fines for anyone found using these devices in the areas she recommends they be banned from.
The motion was already approved by the Infrastructure and Environment Committee, but will need support from city council next week to come into effect.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 6, 2021.
The Canadian Press
