And then there were two.Twelve companies -- including Uber and Lyft -- had been jockeying for permits to operate dockless, rentable electric scooter programs in San Francisco. But the city had said there was just room for five. After a month of studying their applications and processing the permits, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) said Thursday, the two companies that received permits were Skip and Scoot."The agency looked for applications that prioritized the city's concerns around safety, disabled access, equity and accountability," the SFMTA said in its announcement. "Taken as a whole, Scoot and Skip's applications demonstrated not only a commitment to meet the terms of the permit, but a high level of capability to operate a safe, equitable and accountable scooter share service." The companies that didn't make the cut are Uber, Lyft, Bird and Lime.Scooters have become a controversial topic in the Bay Area. The commotion began after three companies -- Bird, … [Read more...] about Two electric scooter companies, Skip and Scoot, take the win for SF permits
Scooters
Uber is building its own electric scooter, says report
A line of Uber scooters could soon be zipping around cities.Uber has quietly begun building its own electric scooter, according to a report Thursday from Bloomberg Businessweek. Jump Bikes, which Uber acquired in April, is overseeing the project, reported Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources.Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in an interview published this week that the ride-hailing giant is shifting its focus from cars to electric bikes and scooters for short, inner-city trips.Uber acquired the bike-sharing startup Jump earlier this year, which already has electric bikes in cities including Washington DC, New York and Denver. Uber also won a recommendation to operate electric scooters in Santa Monica, California, and is one of 12 companies vying for five permits to operate them in San Francisco. Uber is working on the scooters in a warehouse building at San Francisco's Pier 70, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. The company also reportedly uses the space to develop its … [Read more...] about Uber is building its own electric scooter, says report
Okay, E-Scooters Are Fine, But They Need to be Parked Somewhere
A couple months back I declared that, despite having yet to try one out, I hated e-scooters and, more specifically, the idea they could supplant other modes of transportation in some cities. Well, I tried out a scooter from one of the many scooter startups, Bird, while in Detroit last week, and now I’m here to dial back my initial critique—slightly—at the risk of taking a heaping load of egg to my face: Scooters are fine, but, man, they need to be parked somewhere. I took plenty of heat for the blog post in June because, hey, who am I to talk about something I’d yet to try? But I still feel they divert attention away from trying to solve solve key issues with public transportation. Sure, they’re a fine last-mile option, and, yes, e-scooter companies don’t have a mandate to fix bus systems or train routes across the U.S. But I don’t think we should focus on solving micro-mobility problems when we can’t even resolve standard mobility … [Read more...] about Okay, E-Scooters Are Fine, But They Need to be Parked Somewhere
Uber Wants You to Use an Electric Bike or Scooter for Short Trips Instead of a Car
Uber has rapidly expanded its slate of transit offerings in recent months, with the addition of electric bike and scooter businesses. Now the startup’s CEO would like to see an emphasis on getting consumers to use bikes and scooters for shorter trips instead of cars, according to the Financial Times. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi even admits that scooters and bikes could be a financial detriment in the short-term, a notable point as the startup moves toward an anticipated initial public offering in 2019. From the Financial Times: Ahead of Uber’s highly anticipated flotation, Mr Khosrowshahi said investors had to be aware that short-term losses were necessary to achieve longer-term goals — and part of that was a focus away from cars in inner cities. “During rush hour, it is very inefficient for a one-tonne hulk of metal to take one person 10 blocks,” he told the Financial Times in an interview. “We’re able to shape behaviour in a way … [Read more...] about Uber Wants You to Use an Electric Bike or Scooter for Short Trips Instead of a Car
Uber wants you to hop on electric bikes, scooters for short trips
Uber wants you to shift from cars to electric bikes and scooters for short city trips.The ride-hailing giant reportedly plans to put more emphasis on electric bikes and scooters, saying they're better suited than cars for inner-city travel."During rush hour, it is very inefficient for a one-tonne hulk of metal to take one person 10 blocks," Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told the Financial Times in an interview published Monday. "We're able to shape behaviour in a way that's a win for the user. It's a win for the city." Khosrowshahi did admit, in the short term, that the move could mean a financial hit for Uber drivers and the company, according to FT.Uber acquired the bike-sharing startup Jump in April, which has bikes in cities including Washington, Denver and New York. The company also won a recommendation to operate electric scooters in Santa Monica, California, and is also one of 12 companies vying for five permits to operate electric scooters in San Francisco. In April, San … [Read more...] about Uber wants you to hop on electric bikes, scooters for short trips