3. Revel, a Moped Rideshare Service

Revel electric mo-ped

Image courtesy Revel Transit

At the end of July 2018, Revel Transit launched a moped rideshare service featuring zero-emission “E-mopeds,” which are U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) safety certified. Here’s how it works. First, you download the Revel app (iPhone or Android) to find mopeds nearby. After you pay a one-time fee for a motor vehicle license check, there is a small unlocking fee and further charges are based on how long you ride. Even if you don’t know how to drive a moped, the company says not to worry: Revel Transit mopeds include insurance, helmets, and free training for inexperienced riders. 

In August 2018, Revel Transit hosted a race from Bushwick to Long Island City with seven participants across different transportation methods: a Revel moped, a Citi Bike, the L train to the G train, the B57 bus to the Q59, an Uber, an Uber Pool, and a green taxi. The results? The scooter was not surprisingly the fastest. According to the press release, “the e-moped finished first in 23 minutes, followed by the Uber Pool in 34 minutes and Uber in 37 minutes. The Citi Bike finished in last place, taking a total of 58 minutes. The lowest cost route was the Citi Bike (included in an annual membership fee of $169), followed by public transit at $2.75 and the moped journey at $4.36. The most expensive route was the Uber ride at $41.” In the first six weeks of operation, Revel Transit had 5,288 rides, with 1000 riders traveling 16,970 miles around Brooklyn and Queens.