Portland City Council Eyes Human Driver Requirement for Robotaxis Amid Job Displacement Concerns

Portland's city council is actively considering regulations that would require a human safety operator in every driverless robotaxi operating within city limits, a requirement framed explicitly as job protection for the region's rideshare workforce. Councilor Sameer Kanal has championed the measure with unusual directness, proposing language that would mandate human drivers: "I'd like to have code that simply says all vehicles require a human driver. It would take six words." The proposal emerged from public testimony by rideshare driver advocates including Nathaniel Hudson-Hartman of Portland Drivers United, who emphasized that human operators provide services beyond autonomous driving—assisting passengers with luggage, groceries, and mobility devices—while also ensuring someone can intervene during emergencies.