Hoboken rolls out robot sidewalk survey, and wants your input

Starting Monday, you might see a small, bright-vested robot rolling down the sidewalk in Hoboken. It’s not a delivery bot, and it’s not a toy. It’s Daxbot, and it’s here to help the city figure out exactly how accessible – or not – our streets and sidewalks really are.

The city is launching a robot-assisted sidewalk assessment, paired with an online survey open now through July 23rd. The goal: to map every curb cut, crosswalk, and push button, and to hear from residents about what it’s actually like to get around the Mile Square City.

“Hoboken has become a national model for street safety because we’ve consistently invested in making our streets work better for everyone,” Mayor Emily Jabbour said in a statement. “By combining innovative technology like Daxbot with feedback from residents and guidance from accessibility advocates, we’ll better understand where improvements are needed and develop a roadmap that makes Hoboken’s streets, sidewalks, and public spaces safer and more welcoming for everyone.”

What are these robots doing, exactly?

Daxbot travels at walking speed, uses sensors, and collects engineering measurements: sidewalk width, cross slope, running slope, vertical changes, curb ramp conditions – all the physical details that determine whether a person using a wheelchair, a stroller, or a walker can easily get from one block to the next. The robots are wrapped in high-visibility vests and are always supervised. They yield to people on the sidewalk.

And no, they don’t record personal information. The data is strictly about the infrastructure, not about who is using it.

If you see a Daxbot, you’re encouraged to snap a selfie and tag the city and Daxbot on social media. Just please don’t block the robot while it’s working. If it pauses, it’s likely uploading data or waiting for a ride to its next area.

How we got here

This isn’t happening in a vacuum. Hoboken has been working on street safety for years – it was one of the first cities in New Jersey to adopt a Vision Zero plan, aiming to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. Now, the city is updating that plan and simultaneously creating an ADA Accessibility Plan. The robot survey is part of a broader push to understand what barriers exist for people with disabilities, seniors, families with young children, and anyone who moves through the city outside of a car.

The robot data will be combined with what the city calls a “stakeholder advisory group” – residents, advocacy organizations, community partners, and accessibility experts – who will review findings and help shape recommendations. The survey is a crucial piece too. Some things just don’t show up in a dataset. Maybe a curb cut looks compliant on paper but is always blocked by a parked car. Maybe a push button works but is too high for a child or someone in a wheelchair to reach. That’s where your voice comes in.

What it means for you

If you live in Hoboken, you know the sidewalk reality can vary block by block. Some stretches are smooth and wide; others have cracks, slopes, or missing curb ramps that make them tough to navigate. This assessment should give the city a block-by-block picture of what needs fixing. The hope is that the improvements that follow – new curb ramps, better crosswalks, clearer paths through parks – will make daily life easier for everyone.

For a parent pushing a stroller, or a commuter walking from the PATH station with a rolling bag, or a senior with a walker, or anyone who uses a wheelchair, these small changes can be the difference between a manageable errand and an exhausting ordeal. The city says the goal is to make Hoboken “safer and more welcoming for everyone.” That’s not a small thing.

What people are saying

Mayor Jabbour emphasized that the technology and survey are meant to complement each other. “By combining innovative technology like Daxbot with feedback from residents and guidance from accessibility advocates, we’ll better understand where improvements are needed.”

First Ward Councilman Paul Presinzano, who sits on the council’s transportation committee and has introduced an ordinance to bring a delivery robot to Hoboken, said he was not briefed on the Daxbot rollout before it became public. “The administration should keep the council informed about new initiatives before they become public, not after questions are already being asked,” he said. “Good communication leads to better oversight and stronger public confidence.”

He noted that Daxbot’s parent company also produces autonomous security patrol robots with 24/7 camera surveillance for crime deterrence. “That distinction matters, and it’s the type of information the council should have before programs like this move forward,” he said. “It also raises a reasonable question: how can a new technology initiative advance without the council being briefed?”

The city has not responded to those concerns directly, but has described the Daxbots as measuring tools, not surveillance devices.

What comes next

The robot survey will take about a month. The public survey closes July 23rd. Once the data and feedback are collected, the stakeholder advisory group will review everything and help write the ADA Accessibility Plan and updated Vision Zero Action Plan. You can expect those to come back to the council for discussion and, eventually, implementation.

If you want your voice heard, take the survey before July 23rd. And when you see Daxbot rolling down the street, say hi. It’s working for you.