SAN FRANCISCO Reuters- General Motors Co's self-driving technology unit Cruise pushed back on Monday about claims from San Francisco authorities that its robotaxis are illegally double-parking, saying they have the right to block traffic for quick stops.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency SFMTA last week challenged Cruise's application for a permit to deploy robotaxis in San Francisco on the grounds that it was illegally double parking during testing, creating safety and traffic concerns. The permit would be denied until Cruise's technology could demonstrate greater competency, according to the agency.
The California Public Utilities Commission has the final say on whether or not Cruise gets the permit to charge the public for rides.
Cruise said state law permits commercial vehicles to park away from a curb when necessary to load or unload passengers. San Francisco had no special restrictions in the areas cited in SFMTA's complaint about Cruise.
Cruise's operations are not only explicitly legal permissible under the Vehicle Code but are in line with the lawful operation of other commercial vehicles registered in California, the company said in a letter to the CPUC on Monday.
SFMTA criticized Cruise's plans for failing to dedicate service in low-income and minority neighborhoods or to accommodate wheelchairs. The CPUC, the organization Disability Rights California, raised similar issues, Cruise said.
Cruise said that its vehicles can fit in the backseat a foldable wheelchair and a passenger.