'Delivery robots are in the way - you're the one who has to move'

Seeing delivery robots out on the streets is something many people up and down the country have become familiar with recently, but a charity has urged the government to bring in national regulations and clarify their legality.

Such devices are currently operating in many parts of the UK, including in Leeds, Sheffield, Barnsley, Milton Keynes and Bristol.

Starship Technologies, which is the market leader behind most of the robots, claims to have made more than two million deliveries in the UK using them since 2018.

The company has said it will manufacture the machines in Britain if the government changes the law to allow them to expand across the country.

But charity Living Streets has warned that the robots pose a threat to the safety of pedestrians and wheelchair users.

The charity, which says it aims to improve streets, cut road deaths and congestion and enhance health, has started a campaign calling on the government not to legalise delivery robots and to put a stop to what it has called "pavement overload".

Zak Viney, from the charity, says: "It's really important that people feel safe when they're walking around the pavements.

"Our pavements are for everyone, but for wheelchair users, those who are visually impaired, and parents pushing prams, we actually have quite cluttered pavements.

"For us, delivery robots present an issue. They've been brought in with no national framework and they're blocking pavements for some of the most vulnerable people within our society."

On the streets of Leeds, people have mixed views about these relatively new additions - with some definitely in support of the robots, while others remain staunchly opposed.

"They are in the way a lot of them time," says Marley, who lives in the city.

"You're the one who has to move."

Marley adds that the robots having cameras on them is also a cause for concern.

"I have no idea where that data is going - if it's used to train AI, or if it's secure."

Meanwhile, Oran, who also lives in Leeds, disagrees with those people who think the robots are "cute".

"It feels really sinister. I'm not a fan," says Oran.

"I don't know why they're even on the path."

A spokesperson for Starship Technologies previously told the BBC the cameras and sensors on its robots were "just to help them operate safely in the environment".

One supporter of the delivery robots which are now regularly seen out and about on the streets of Leeds is Isobel.

She says that while she "got an awful fright" when she saw one for the first time, she now thinks "they're great".

"If people are there, or a car is coming or anything, they stop," she smiles.

"I think they're most polite."

Isobel says she has so far not made use of a delivery robot, but adds: "There's time yet."

Ray, who lives near the Hyde Park area of the city, also says he can see the upside of such robots.

He says they "just tootle along keeping out of the way, and they stop if they're interrupted".

The Living Streets charity has sent an open letter to Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander, calling for clarification on the legality of delivery robots and urging national regulations.

A government spokesperson told the BBC the law would be updated "as soon as parliamentary time allows and following public consultation".

"We welcome innovation and advances in technology have the potential to boost our economy," they added.

"But it's vital the safety of pedestrians and vulnerable road users is put first."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Starship Technologies said: "We've always put lived experience of disability at the heart of what we do.

"We work with disability charities to improve our design and autonomous driving.

"We provide an important service to the 25% of our regular customers who tell us they have a disability or live with someone who does."

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