Did you know that roughly 3.3 million Americans use wheelchairs? While accessibility has generally improved over the years, getting around town can be difficult for folks who rely on mobility devices. Now, GM-backed Cruise plans to launch a driver-free wheelchair-accessible robotaxi service in 2024. Bur riders should beware: There may be some bumps on the roads ahead.
Some mass transit systems offer accessibility features, but they can be difficult to use, and folks with limited mobility may still have difficulty getting to the right stops. With a robotaxi, the shuttle can come right to the traveler.
The current taxis are based on Cruise's Origin shuttles, which feature no internal driving mechanisms (e.g. steering wheel). The modified shuttles offer automated ramps, floor clamps for wheels, and redesigned interior spaces to accommodate wheelchairs. Cruise worked with GM and accessibility advocates for three years to test and refine designs, and a launch appears set for 2024.
Other companies, including Waymo and Volkswagen, have hinted at similar robotaxi solutions for those with disabilities, but for now, Cruise still leads the charge. That said, it hasn't been all good news for Cruise. The company has been testing fleets of its regular robotaxis in some cities, and already, accidents threaten derail their ambitions. In San Francisco, over the course of a week, one automated Cruise taxi collided with a fire truck and another ended up stuck in wet cement. Following the incidents, Cruise agreed to slash its fleet in half in the city.
While driverless cars may have a long road ahead of them before they can become a widely adopted, practical solution, they're a promising option to improve accessibility for the roughly 25.5 million Americans who have disabilities that constrain their ability to travel outside of the home. In addition to wheelchair users, people with vision impairments or those who rely on other mobility devices beyond wheelchairs also face constant uphill battles while traveling. Cruise's robotaxi could be a road-leveling solution.