Fremont hears DoorDash ‘Dot’ pilot plan for bike‑lane deliveries; cyclists and residents urge caution

Fremont city staff and DoorDash Labs on Feb. 17 outlined a proposed pilot to operate DoorDash’s delivery robot, Dot, in designated bike lanes and local streets. The item was informational; staff said the pilot would proceed under a public‑works encroachment permit and specific permit conditions.

Christina Briggs, assistant city manager, framed the project as an economic development partnership that supports a local manufacturer and could offer convenience to small restaurants. Public Works Director Hans Larson and Assistant City Engineer Noe Veloso described a phased rollout designed to prioritize safety: Phase 1a would run three robots for two to three months with in‑person DoorDash staff monitoring; if safety and community acceptance are demonstrated, Phase 1b could scale up to a maximum of 30 robots monitored remotely. Staff said the initial permit would be approved for one year through March 2027 and can be revoked for safety concerns or significant public objection.

Henry Grenage, who introduced himself as DoorDash Labs’ head of public policy, described Dot as “an all‑electric robot” designed for city deployments and community engagement. “Dot is our all electric, robot. It is truly one of a kind,” he said, adding the vehicle uses lidar, cameras and radar and that DoorDash tailors operations to each city’s context.

Staff and DoorDash explained operational limits included a stated maximum of 20 miles per hour in bike lanes and 5 miles per hour on sidewalks, while noting observed speeds in other deployments typically run closer to 15 mph in bike lanes. DoorDash said robots would reduce speed as warranted by conditions, and that Phase 1a robots would be trailed by DoorDash staff (often on e‑bikes) during the initial demonstration.

Members of the public raised safety and equity concerns. Andreas Kudavanich of Bike Fremont noted the robots can weigh about 400 pounds when loaded and urged the council to consider lowering the maximum speed. “These devices are about 400 pounds fully loaded … you only have to drop the speed to 15 miles per hour to bring the kinetic energy down to that of the typical e‑bike rider,” he said. Other commenters cited debris in bike lanes, potential interactions with fast e‑bikes, privacy questions about camera recording, and the risk of labor displacement.

Councilmembers supported a careful, staged approach and asked staff to provide short review check‑ins (three to six months were proposed by various members). Staff said they would coordinate with police, risk managers, bike‑lane stakeholders and the Mobility Commission and that the permit would require DoorDash to bear liability and pay permit fees and staff coordination deposits.

No formal council action was taken — the item was informational — but councilmembers asked staff for periodic updates and emphasized community outreach and safety thresholds before any expansion.