While new modes of urban transportation—motorized scooters, dockless bike share, and e-bikes—have been rolling out at a rapid clip in U.S. cities, New York City has thus far been slower to adapt. It was only a few weeks ago, after all, that the city’s dockless pilot launched in Queens, and laws on the books prevent electric scooters or throttle e-bikes (as opposed to pedal-assist ones) from being used on city streets.
Electric mopeds, however, have no such restrictions—and a new startup has a plan to bring those to Brooklyn. Say hello to Revel, which will launch today with 68 electric mopeds scattered throughout Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Bushwick. The company is the first of its kind in New York City, though moped-sharing startups already exist in other North American cities (including Atlanta and Pittsburgh).
How it works: Users can rent mopeds for short periods (via Revel’s app, naturally), with the first 20 minutes costing $4, and the price going up incrementally after that. (“Every minute after that costs 25 cents while moving or stopped in traffic, or 5 cents while parked,” according to the Wall Street Journal.) In order to use the service, users must have a valid driver’s license, and also have to pass a background check. The scooters must stay within Brooklyn and Queens (you’re not supposed to take them on bridges), and must be returned within the pilot area.
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