Ashtyn Asay 
Bikes won’t be the only thing rolling along Hoboken sidewalks this month. Starting Monday, July 13th, the City of Hoboken has launched a month-long survey of its sidewalks and pedestrian infrastructure using robotic scanners called Daxbots. The initiative is part of the City’s new Accessibility Action Plan, which aims to improve safety, accessibility, and mobility throughout Hoboken. Read on to learn more about how Hoboken is using robots.
What Are the Robots Doing?
Over the next several weeks, residents may notice Daxbot robots in high-visibility vests traveling at walking speed throughout the city. According to a press release from Hoboken City Hall, the robots are collecting engineering data on sidewalks, curb ramps, crosswalks, pedestrian signal push buttons, and park pathways to help identify accessibility barriers in public spaces and prioritize future improvements.
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The Daxbots, which will be supervised at all times, are specifically designed to operate in shared public spaces. They yield to pedestrians and use sensors to measure sidewalk width, slopes, curb ramp conditions, vertical changes, and other features related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility. According to the City, the robots only collect data related to pedestrian infrastructure and do not store personal information.
What to Do If You See a Daxbot
If you bump into one of the robots while walking around Hoboken, the city is encouraging residents to snap a selfie and tag @CityofHoboken and @idigdax on social media. Officials have asked that pedestrians avoid blocking the robots as they complete their routes, noting that they may occasionally stop briefly to upload data or wait for pickup after finishing a designated area.
Share Your Feedback
In addition to the robotic survey, Hoboken has launched a public accessibility survey with the intention of identifying accessibility challenges that may not be captured by engineering data alone. Feedback from this survey will be used alongside the data gathered by the Daxbots to inform recommendations for future improvements across Hoboken’s public right-of-way. The survey is available here and will remain open through July 23.
“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. “As we update our Vision Zero Action Plan, we’re expanding that commitment by taking a comprehensive look at accessibility throughout our city.”
According to the press release, the city will also continue working with a stakeholder advisory group of residents, advocacy organizations, community partners, and accessibility experts to review the survey findings and help shape both the ADA Accessibility Action Plan and the updated Vision Zero Action Plan.
How It Fits Into Vision Zero
The sidewalk survey is one part of Hoboken’s broader effort to update its Vision Zero Action Plan, the City’s long-term strategy to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries while making streets safer for everyone. Earlier this year, Mayor Jabbour, who was sworn into office in January, signed her first executive order recommitting Hoboken to Vision Zero, reestablishing the city’s Vision Zero Task Force, and directing the development of a citywide ADA Accessibility Transition Plan.
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“As my first executive order as mayor, reaffirming Hoboken’s Vision Zero commitment sends a clear message that safety, accessibility, and transparency will remain central to how we govern,” Mayor Jabbour said in a press release. “Hoboken has shown that thoughtful street design, strong partnerships, and community engagement can save lives. By relaunching the Vision Zero Task Force, updating our action plan, and inviting residents to share their experiences, we are building the next phase of this work together.”
As a part of this recommitment to Vision Zero, Hoboken is implementing several safety initiatives in 2026, including multi-way stop control at 25 intersections, crosswalk restriping near schools, safety upgrades on over 50 blocks, targeted law enforcement, and Hoboken’s largest-ever public awareness campaign on travel safety.
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