Two self-driving food delivery robots crashed into Chicago Transit Authority bus shelters in separate incidents, according to statements released on March 25. The first collision occurred when a Coco robot struck the glass of a shelter at North Avenue and Larrabee Street in Old Town, scattering glass across the sidewalk. Video footage provided by a neighbor and statements from Coco confirmed the incident.
The crashes have raised concerns about the safety of autonomous delivery vehicles operating on city sidewalks. Both companies involved—Coco and Serve Robotics—are participating in a pilot program that allows robotic deliveries in certain neighborhoods.
According to Coco’s head of safety and government relations, Carl Hansen, “Across more than 1 million miles of deliveries, this is the first time one of our robots has collided with a structure like this. Our robots operate at a top speed of about 5 miles per hour, and safety is a top priority in how we design and monitor our systems.” Hansen also said, “Our team responded immediately, retrieved the robot, and are actively clearing the area. We’re grateful no one was hurt. We’ve reached out to the company that owns the shelter and are taking full responsibility for the cost of repair.”
A similar incident happened days earlier when a Serve Robotics vehicle hit another bus shelter on Grand Avenue in West Town. Serve Robotics said it takes “the matter very seriously” and added: “We’re aware of the incident involving one of our robots in Chicago. No injuries were reported, our team responded quickly to clean up, and we’re reviewing what happened to make improvements.” The company also stated: “We have also been in contact with local stakeholders and are committed to addressing any concerns directly.”
Chicago residents continue to debate whether these delivery robots offer benefits or create new hazards. Some neighbors have launched petitions calling for more data sharing or public hearings before expanding their use further.
The current pilot program will not be extended past May 2027 without City Council approval. Erica Schroeder from the Department of Transportation said: “CDOT and BACP are in contact with both Serve and Coco to better understand the circumstances that led to these occurrences… Both companies are responsible for covering the cost of any damage caused by their devices and are coordinating directly with JCDecaux, which maintains Chicago’s bus shelters.”
