Overview
- The arrest happened on October 14 after 78‑year‑old Carolyn Marvin stood in front of an Uber Eats delivery robot in Center City and refused police orders to move.
- Police said officers responded to a report of criminal mischief, issued multiple commands to Marvin, handcuffed her and gave her a citation for disorderly conduct.
- Marvin says she has repeatedly blocked robots as a symbolic protest over job losses for low‑paid couriers, sidewalk safety and cameras on the machines and that she plans to continue.
- Pennsylvania’s Act 106 of 2020 classifies 'personal delivery devices' as pedestrians, which gives robots specific rights on sidewalks but still requires them to yield to people and cyclists.
- The case brings into focus who controls public sidewalks, how cities and police will enforce access, and whether future court rulings will limit protests that obstruct automated devices.