Disabled man says self-driving delivery robot reversed into mobility scooter as video goes viral

An incident involving a self-driving food-delivery cart has sparked safety concerns after a disabled man on a mobility scooter said he was cut off and struck by the vehicle on a sidewalk. Mark Chaney, who has cerebral palsy, was returning home from a medical procedure when a Serve Robotics delivery cart confronted him. A video of the encounter has circulated widely on TikTok and Instagram, with more than 20 million views, showing the robot weaving in front of the man as he tries to navigate around it.

Chaney described how he attempted to give the robot space to pass, but the cart slowed, then stopped abruptly and bumped into his mobility scooter. He said the impact caused immediate pain and that he feared he could fall, given that he uses crutches for longer distances. The footage captures Chaney shouting 'seriously' as he zigzags along the sidewalk to avoid the vehicle while it maneuvers.

Serve Robotics said in an email to KTLA that the robot did not drive in reverse at any point and was operating autonomously as it adjusted its path to the pedestrian's movements. The company argued that it was a matter of predicting another party's actions in real time without direct communication. The company described the moment as a doorway analogy in which both parties hesitated before proceeding, and stated that ultimately the robot came to a complete stop when it determined the safest option was to halt.

Chaney, who has had prior run-ins with delivery robots, said he felt the company was blaming him and not taking accountability. He recounted another incident when he stepped into a street with crutches to avoid a robot. He said accessibility concerns must be addressed in the design process. Serve Robotics said it would launch an Accessibility Council to help improve the robot's safety system and include people with disabilities in its design work. The Daily Mail reported the incident and said it had reached out to Serve Robotics for comment.

Experts say the episode highlights ongoing debates about safety and user experience in autonomous delivery. As robotic couriers become more common in urban environments, questions about sensor reliability, interaction with nonstandard pedestrians, and how systems communicate with users, especially those who rely on mobility aids, are likely to gain more attention.