Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are expected to bring major benefits to transport and society. To exploit this potential, their acceptance by society is a necessary condition. However, AV acceptance is currently at stake: AVs face resistance by bystanders and local communities. Resistance can prevent the implementation and use of AVs, threatening road safety and efficiency. The present study performed a qualitative and quantitative text analysis of comments submitted by locals in San Francisco (SF) to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on the fared deployment of AVs. The results of the analysis are synthesized, and a conceptual framework explaining and predicting resistance is proposed. The framework posits that the occurrence of resistance is a direct result of the perception of threats, which is determined by individual and system characteristics, direct and indirect consequences of system use, reactions of others, and external events. AVs as threat to safety was associated with their unpredictable, and illegal driving behavior, as well as producing conflict situations. The lack of explicit communication between AVs and other road users due to the absence of a human driver behind the steering wheel negatively contributed to perceived safety and trust, especially for vulnerable populations in crossing situations. Respondents reported a negative impact on road capacity, congestion, and traffic flow, with AVs blocking other road users, such as emergency vehicles. Inaccessible vehicle design contributed to the exclusion of vulnerable groups with disabilities. The scientific dialogue on acceptance of AVs needs to shift towards resistance as the 'other' essential element of acceptance to ensure that we live up to our promise of transitioning towards more sustainable mobility that is inclusive, equitable, fair, just, affordable, and available to all.

翻译：自动驾驶汽车（AVs）有望为交通和社会带来重大益处。要发挥这一潜力，社会对其接受是必要条件。然而，当前AVs的接受度面临挑战：旁观者和当地社区对其表现出抵制。这种抵制可能阻碍AVs的实施和使用，危及道路安全与效率。本研究对旧金山（SF）当地居民向加州公用事业委员会（CPUC）提交的关于AVs付费部署的评论进行了定性和定量文本分析。综合分析了结果，并提出了一个解释和预测抵制的概念框架。该框架认为，抵制的发生直接源于对威胁的感知，这种感知由个体与系统特征、系统使用的直接与间接后果、他人的反应以及外部事件决定。将AVs视为安全威胁的观点与其不可预测和非法驾驶行为以及引发冲突情境相关。由于方向盘后缺乏人类驾驶员，AVs与其他道路使用者缺乏明确沟通，这负面影响了对安全性和信任度的感知，尤其对弱势群体在穿越路口时不利。受访者报告称，AVs阻碍了其他道路使用者（如应急车辆），对道路容量、拥堵和交通流产生了负面影响。不便于使用的车辆设计导致残疾等弱势群体被排除在外。关于AVs接受度的科学对话需转向将抵制视为接受的"另一"关键要素，以确保我们兑现向包容、公平、公正、可负担且人人可享的更可持续出行方式转型的承诺。