Supporters of the legislation, which the
The e-scooter trend has led to complaints from people in cities across the country.
The tech industry has showered
“I support innovation and technology, but our residents are not guinea pigs, and our public infrastructure is not a free-for-all," said
It's not clear how criteria will be used to evaluate proposals, but companies that share data, ensure public safety and privacy when testing, and promote job creation would fare better than those that don't.
The office would have oversight over new technology launched on, above or below city property or on public right-of-ways, but the legislation does not spell out all the possible technologies the office would oversee.
Yee said hoverboards, delivery drones and data-gathering devices on sidewalks or other public infrastructure would be subject to regulation. He's even heard of a business that wants to promote low-tech pogo sticks as transportation. The concept makes him shudder.
“Can you imagine?” Yee said. “Let’s put a stop to that before they drop 10,000 pogo sticks into the city."
Local officials have a duty to protect public infrastructure and to send the message that public space is “not the Wild West" for anyone with coding skills and a neat idea, said
“On the other hand, too much local control and too many hoops to jump through can be easily manipulated by vested interests to fight advancement," he said.
“It had a detrimental and lasting effect on the quality of life and the health of our city," he said.
For instance,
Transportation companies like those ride-hailing services are overseen by the state so could not be regulated by the city office, says
But the legislation has the backing of sf.citi, a tech association founded by angel investor
“We believe that the supervisor's approach of working with — rather than against — industry to build legislation is the kind of leadership this city needs to be successful," said
“This is an era in which government needs to build empathy for technology, and technology companies must build more empathy for government,” he said.
Yee came up with the idea for regulation nearly two years ago, after he successfully passed legislation requiring companies to get permits to test delivery robots. The idea gained more urgency after hundreds of dockless scooters appeared on city sidewalks in 2018, providing a fun ride for some but irritation for others forced to weave around them.
The city moved to ban the scooters until officials could regulate them.
© 2019 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved., source