# Carolyn Marvin blocks food delivery robots on Philadelphia sidewalks

> Original title: Standing in the way of slop bowls: the woman blocking food delivery robots

- Source: The Guardian · AI
- Published: 2026-11-07T14:00:12.000Z
- Bad Influence: https://badinfluence.news/items/p0p9gtkhv4muocj5ygnfxumqf
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ng-interactive/2026/nov/07/philadelphia-blocking-food-delivery-robots

## Summary

Carolyn Marvin, a 78-year-old semi-retired University of Pennsylvania communications professor, blocks Avride food delivery robots on Philadelphia sidewalks as a protest against their use of public space. Police handcuffed her and wrote her a disorderly conduct ticket for blocking a business, and she says she will contest the charge in court. Avride operates almost 1,000 food delivery robots on more than 25 college campuses and in urban locations including Jersey City and Austin.