What happened

While riding in a designated San Francisco bike lane, Jenifer Hanki was struck when the rear door of a Waymo robocab abruptly opened in her path, throwing her into the lane and causing her to collide with another Waymo vehicle also encroaching on the bike lane. 

Hanki suffered serious injuries including brain and spinal trauma, and required emergency care. 

Why it happened

Hanki’s lawsuit alleges that Waymo’s “Safe Exit system”, which is intended to warn passengers against opening doors into bike lanes, failed to function, and that the lack of human oversight exacerbated the situation. 

The claim further argues that Waymo’s operational and safety practices do not meet the necessary standards for public safety and may have misrepresented system capabilities to regulators. 

The absence of human accountability in the vehicle led to confusion among passengers and a lack of immediate reporting or assistance for Hanki by those involved. 

What it means

The incident highlights real risks that cyclists sharing roads with autonomous vehicles must endure.

Given the expansion of autonomous vehicle services, it highlights the need for robust testing, accountability, and regulatory oversight.