Forget Uber and the perpetually delayed subway — there’s a new way to get around New York. A brand-new electric moped rideshare service launched yesterday in Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Bushwick in Brooklyn by the company Revel Transit. Moped sharing already exists in cities like Paris and we’ll see how it takes in New York City but the founders of Revel believe it serves a role in the transportation ecosystem here. “Revel is more than just a new way to get around – it’s a missing link from New York’s transportation network,”said Paul Suhey, co-founder of Revel Transit. “As a quick and efficient mode of transportation, we look forward to e-mopeds becoming an integrated part of the city’s transit system, especially in areas underserved by existing infrastructure.”
Once the service expands to all of New York City, the mopeds will be an ideal way to travel narrow streets unmanageable for larger vehicles and weave through traffic. The zero-emission “E-mopeds,” which are U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) safety certified, will be able to go anywhere in the city except major bridges, thruways, and expressways.
Images courtesy Revel Transit
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 of $25 for a motor vehicle license check, rides are $4 for 20 minutes, with a 25-cents per-minute charge after that. If you want to pause your ride, you can turn the moped off and keep it reserved for $3/hour. 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. New users automatically get $8 in riding credit (2 free rides). Revel is currently offering users an additional $15 riding credit that expires on 8/30/18. The promotional code is “RevelAndGo” and provides up to $23 total in riding credits, which is equivalent to 5 free rides.
Images courtesy Revel Transit
Revel Transit was co-founded by Frank Reig, a trained chef with experience at some of New York’s best restaurants (including Gramercy Tavern), and Suhey, who has a background in chemical engineering. The idea for Revel Transit grew partially out of their shared passion for clean transportation solutions.
If you want to try out Revel Transit mopeds before they hit the streets of Manhattan, head on down to their offices in Bushwick or download the Revel app to find a moped close to you in Brooklyn.
Next, read about NYC’s all-electric buses and discover 10 exciting sustainability projects here in NYC.
