Cyclist injured in collision with Avride delivery robot in Jersey City
A cyclist says an Avride delivery robot working for Uber Eats moved into a Jersey City bike lane and caused a crash that broke his collarbone. He is suing both companies.
Key facts
- A cyclist says an Avride delivery robot entered the bike lane on Varick Street in Jersey City at about 5 p.m. on October 22, 2025, causing him to crash.
- The cyclist said he was thrown over his handlebars and suffered a concussion and a broken collarbone.
- A witness said the robot started to continue on its way after the crash and that she blocked it and photographed it.
- Avride acknowledged an October 2025 collision between a cyclist and one of its robots but declined to discuss it, citing the legal case.
- The cyclist's lawyer said it appeared to be the first reported delivery robot crash in New Jersey.
Alleged.The account rests on a lawsuit, complaint or a single party’s claim that has not been tested or independently confirmed. Claims below are attributed to the party making them and have not been established by a court or regulator unless stated.
What happened
According to the cyclist and his lawyer, he was riding home from work along the bike lane on Varick Street in Jersey City at about 5 p.m. on October 22, 2025, when an Avride delivery robot moved unexpectedly into his path. He said he was thrown over the handlebars and landed on his head and neck.
He was taken to a hospital by ambulance. He said he had a concussion and a broken clavicle, missed several days of work and was still recovering months later. A witness told News 12 that the robot pulled into the street directly in front of the cyclist, and that afterward it turned to carry on with its delivery until she stood in its way and took photographs.
The collision became widely known in May 2026, when the cyclist’s lawyer announced legal action.
The system involved
Avride builds four-wheeled autonomous delivery robots that it says stand 33 inches tall and travel at up to 5 mph. Under a partnership announced in October 2024, the robots carry Uber Eats orders; the service reached Jersey City in February 2025. Avride says its fleet is programmed to follow traffic laws and safety rules.
Investigation and response
The cyclist’s lawyer said he would sue both Uber and Avride and argued that the companies were testing unfinished technology on public streets. News 12 reported on May 11, 2026, that the cyclist was suing the two companies.
Avride said it was aware of a collision involving a cyclist and one of its robots in October 2025, that it could not comment on an active legal matter, and that it wished the injured person well. Uber did not respond to Newsweek’s requests for comment. No police or regulatory findings were reported.
What is not established
The account of how the collision happened comes from the cyclist, his lawyer and one witness; Avride has not given its version and no official finding exists. The court, filing date and status of the lawsuit were not confirmed in the sources reviewed, and no police report was cited.
Outcomes
- The cyclist retained a lawyer and announced a lawsuit against Uber and Avride in May 2026.
- Avride said it was aware of the October 2025 collision but would not comment on an active legal matter.