E-scooters should be legalized on roads but riding on pavements should be prohibited, the United Kingdom’s Transport Committee of MPs said. The BBC reports: Currently, privately-owned e-scooters are banned to use in the UK anywhere except on private land. The committee argues the vehicles, which usually travel 9-15mph, could offer a green alternative to the car. Official trials of rented e-scooters…
Tag: e-scooter
What Happened After San Francisco’s Market Street Went Car-Free?
“Two months after a ban on private cars took effect on a major San Francisco street, bike and e-scooter ridership is soaring, and bus trips are getting quicker,” reports CityLab: [T]he average number of dockless scooter trips provided by one company, Spin, shot up by 30 percent after the car ban went into effect, according to an analysis by Populus, a…
E-Scooter Startup Lime Shuts In 12 Markets, Lays Off Around 100
Scooter company Lime is laying off about 14% of its workforce (roughly 100 employees) and shuttering operations in 12 markets as it seeks to become profitable this year, the company tells Axios. From the report: After two years of explosive growth, scooter companies have entered a new phase — survival of the fittest in a capital-intensive, money-losing industry. “We’re very confident…
Spin’s San Francisco Staff Becomes First E-Scooter Workforce To Unionize
The San Francisco workforce of Spin, the e-scooter company owned by Ford, have unionized, in a first for the industry. Mashable reports: Having voted to unionize on Dec. 5, the workers were authorized to join the Teamsters Local 665 chapter on Wednesday. As well as office-based staff, scooter rental companies largely rely on a workforce of independent contractors, i.e. gig workers,…
E-Scooter Company ‘Unicorn’ Goes Bust After Spending Big On Facebook Ads
Electric scooter start-up Unicorn is shutting down after spending too much money on Facebook ads. The BBC reports: Customers received an email from founder Nick Evans, saying he was “very sorry” and was trying to sell Unicorn’s assets to offer partial refunds. The Texas-based company sold just 350 of its $699 commuter scooters, according to The Verge. They have a top…
Startup ScoopScoot Is Impounding Wayward E-Scooters In San Diego
McGruber shares a report from NBC News: In January, two San Diego businessmen launched a company, ScootScoop, that impounds e-scooters at the behest of private property owners. The company already has 4,500 of the e-scoooters packed in warehouses and garages. Most of the scofflaws pay their bounty, but a few of the half dozen or so e-scooter companies active in San…
Swedish Startup To Bring Pogo Sticks To San Francisco as E-Scooter Alternative
San Franciscans may soon be able to bounce their way around town, if a Swedish-based mobility company has its way. From a report: Last month, start-up company Cangoroo announced plans to deploy hundreds of pogo sticks in select cities to directly compete with electric scooters as a transportation option. Cangoroo officials said they plan to first launch their pogo sticks in…