Autonomous delivery robots operating in Miami Beach will now face stricter rules, including new visibility requirements, insurance mandates and annual permits.
City commissioners adopted the regulations this week in response to growing concerns about pedestrian safety on the city’s narrow sidewalks.
“We’ve narrow sidewalks that were designed 100 years ago plus that did not contemplate bicycles and delivery robots and people with strollers and ADA mobility devices, and yet we are being forced to accept these onto our streets. So this is making the best of an unfortunate situation,” Commissioner Tanya Katzoff Bhatt said.
The measure was originally proposed by former Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez. After Rosen Gonzalez left office, Bhatt picked up the item as its main sponsor and expanded it with additional safeguards.
Miami Beach joins other locations, including DC and California, which have placed limits on autonomous delivery robots as concerns grow over pedestrian safety and overcrowded sidewalks.
Flags, lights and sound
Under the new ordinance, personal delivery devices operating on sidewalks or crosswalks must carry a vertical safety flag or pennant. They must also emit a periodic audible sound while in motion and be equipped with forward and rear-facing lights or reflectors.
The devices may not display commercial advertisements, except for the owner’s name.
Operators must file documentation with the city before deploying robots and provide a 24-hour contact number. They must also submit proof of general liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence and sign a hold-harmless and indemnification agreement in favor of the city.
Speed limits and other rules
The new rules also set clear limits on how the robots can operate.
Devices must follow state rules governing personal delivery devices. They cannot block pedestrian movement or obstruct access to buildings, ADA ramps, fire hydrants, transit stops or other public infrastructure. Robots must always yield to pedestrians and are limited to 8 mph on sidewalks and crosswalks.
They also cannot remain idle on a public sidewalk for more than 30 consecutive minutes unless actively engaged in a delivery. Robots are banned entirely from operating on the city’s Beachwalk and Baywalk.
Operators must now register with the city and obtain an annual operating permit costing $100 per device. Permits can be denied, suspended or revoked for noncompliance.
After a six-month grace period, violations may result in fines, impoundment of the device or suspension of the city-issued permit.
The city will also conduct a sidewalk survey to identify where the devices may pose safety hazards.
“In the meanwhile, we’re going to try and make this as safe as we can for our pedestrians, who should take precedence over corporate profit,” added Bhatt.
