Portland weighs new rules for driverless cars as Waymo plans Rose City fleet

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - Driverless cars are already in cities across the country, but before Waymo brings them to the Rose City, Portland is racing to set rules for the new technology.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation laid out possible regulations on Tuesday during city council’s public works committee meeting.

“I’m not really comfortable at least without having some sideboards that we as a community have established,” said Olivia Clark, council vice president and chair of the committee.

Clark said she does not like driverless cars. But instead of a ban, she would rather the city establish a framework for what they — and the companies behind them — can and cannot do.

The discussion comes as Waymo pushes to bring a fleet to Portland, with cars already on streets learning the roads.

Some of the potential new rules PBOT outlined Tuesday include caps on fleet size and requiring companies log 50,000 miles here before they can charge for rides. Staff also proposed limits on blocking bike lanes, requiring remote operators be licensed in the U.S., and a fee to help support rideshare drivers who could lose work.

Some rideshare drivers, like Nathaniel Hudson-Harman, do not think the regulations go far enough. Hudson-Harman, who is also an organizer for Drivers Union OR, would prefer a ban on autonomous vehicles.

“Oregonians didn’t ask for Waymo, so let’s just ban them outright. Keep them out,” he said. “We got into the work because we love what we do. Imagine telling someone that we’ll just help you find another job. Is that really what’s best for our community.”

Several city councilors on committee also want a ban. That includes councilor Sameer Kanal.

“I am begging my colleagues not to actively support the creation of a dystopia,” he said.

Clark said she hears those fears, but warns waiting could cost the city its say.

“I don’t know if it’s inevitable, but I want to try and get ahead of it before the state legislature preempts us,” she said.

Waymo declined to comment on any possible policy changes. The public works committee meets again Oct. 27, when it could vote to send a proposal to full council or table it.