URF's Fall 2026 Events and PMR News
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Published: September 8, 2026 (Modified version of our Enews sent to supporters)
We are back this fall with an exciting series of events, podcasts, and video recordings. We invite you to register today for our October 1st panel discussion:
Robotaxis and the most contested real estate in our cities: the curb
Date/Time: October 1, 2026 @ 10am-11am ET
URF is pleased to host an interactive panel discussion to explore the challenges and opportunities inherent in managing the curb as robotaxis transition from pilot projects to everyday urban transportation in many cities.
When a driverless vehicle stops to pick up and drop off passengers or to stage for its next fare, it ceases to behave as a mere road vehicle and becomes a public-area mobile robot (PMR) interacting with first-responders, public transportation vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. Register Today: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rxt7SbNXQFu-4JllxCA4Ag
Meet our Guest Panelists for October 1:
We are pleased to introduce our expert panel:
Henriette Cornet CEO at Urban Innovate and Professor at University of San Francisco co-directing the "Autonomous Vehicles and the City Initiative".
Laura Herzig Partner in Beta Mobility, a Nordic mobility startup studio, and advisory.
Rachel Castignoli Senior Consultant with the City of Austin’s Smart Mobility Office.
“Gridlock” Sam Schwartz Chair and Founder of the Transportation Research Program at Roosevelt House at Hunter College.
See our Event page and LinkedIn post for more details.
New PODCASTS!
Who Owns the Curb? Robots, Sidewalks & the Soul of the City
On September 2nd, Intelligent Community Forum's Lou Zacharilla posted a new podcast featuring a discussion with URF's Executive Director, Bern Grush and John G. Jung (ICF Chairman and Co-founder).
The Robotaxi Industry's Real Bottleneck Is Not AI. It's the Curb
In August, Bern was interviewed by Daniel Abreu Marques, AV Market Strategist.
Preparing for Robots in Public through an Urban Planner's Lens
The video recording from our August 11th panel discussion is available on YouTube and on our website. Thank you again to our guest speakers: John Jung (ICF) and Vignesh Ram (Serve Robotics)
Join the robotics community at IROS 2026 in Pittsburgh, PA. This is a pivotal opportunity to engage with industry leaders and innovative research—be part of the movement that defines tomorrow's technology.
Join the Intelligent Community Forum in Columbus, OH for their Global Summit: "Midwest Rising - a Testbed for a Changing Nation. Don't miss the announcement of the 2026 Intelligent Community of the Year!
Comments