The Bicyclists' Manifesto for an Autonomous Vehicle Future from 2016 - In 2018 Self-Driving Cars are on the road & we have no idea whether or not they follow these basic guidlines | Planetizen

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We establish the following 13 principles as a manifesto for cyclists in an AV future.

#1. AVs should be able to detect bicyclists and detect and understand all bicycle signage and lane markings.
#2. AVs should be able to detect and understand bicyclists' hand signals.
#3. AVs should cede the right-of-way to bicyclists.
#4. AVs should have an ability to signal (visual and audible) its detection and basic intent.
#5. AVs should follow bicyclists at a safe distance when unable to pass.
#6. AVs should exceed the 3' minimum passing rule especially as speed increases.
#7. AVs should leave an ample margin of safety when making decisions about turning, passing, ceding right-of-way, and other decision-making scenarios involving bicyclists
#8. AVs should be able to detect approaching bicyclists and prevent "dooring." (Dooring refers to instances when cyclists are struck by the doors of parked cars along a roadway as passengers exit. A more complete explanation of the "door zone" is provided on Wikipedia.)
#9. AVs should be designed (size, shape, weight, materials) to minimize injury to bicyclists should an impact occur.
#10. AVs should travel at speeds appropriate for urban conditions to facilitate safe travel for non-automotive users (for example, not more than 20 miles per hour on downtown and neighborhood streets, 40 miles per hour on arterial connectors, etc.).
#11. AVs should minimize travel on streets designated as bicycle boulevards or that have high bicycle usage but no facilities.
#12. Companies deploying shared AVs should ensure adequate supply of vehicles equipped with bicycle racks/carriers to meet demand.
#13. AV companies should record and share all collision data with local, state, and national law enforcement and regulatory agencies.

Link: 

The Bicyclists' Manifesto for an Autonomous Vehicle Future from 2016 - In 2018 Self-Driving Cars are on the road & we have no idea whether or not they follow these basic guidlines | Planetizen

MoBikeFed comment: These guidelines were developed in 2016. They seem quite sensible, do they not?

But now, in 2018, Congress is ready to pass the AV START legislation to allow hundreds of thousands of self-driving cars to operate all over the country.

AV START does not require these self-driving vehicles to show they can follow these basic standards.

And we have no way of knowing whether or not self-driving cars actually on the road can follow these simple standards. Probably, some brands of self-driving vehicles would do OK, others would fail.

Again, there is no way for us to know.

That needs to change. You can help make the change by contacting Congress to ask them to improve the AV START Act before it is passed. Click here:

http://p2a.co/Oy2UjKv