Tag Archives for: Micromobility

With New Seated E-Scooter, Superpedestrian Seeks to Open Up Micromobility to More Riders

December 17, 2021

 

With New Seated E-Scooter, Superpedestrian Seeks to Open Up Micromobility to More Riders

 

Superpedestrian launches 150 seated scooters in Baltimore this Friday, giving many people with disabilities and older riders a safe and comfortable transportation option

 

 

 

BALTIMORE, Dec. 17, 2021  — Superpedestrian today launched its first fleet of seated e-scooters in a major US city, bringing a more accessible option to riders in Baltimore, Maryland. Starting today, the MIT-spin off micromobility provider will deploy 150 of the seated scooters alongside its conventional fleet of 1,000 standing scooters, giving a more diverse range of riders a safe, comfortable way to make last-mile trips.

There is no additional cost and riders don’t need to pre-book before riding. The seated scooters can be unlocked using the LINK app, which also distinguishes them on its map. The new seated model will be deployed next in Arlington, Virginia and then to select partner cities across the US in 2022.

Superpedestrian has prioritized the development of scooters that feel safe and comfortable for non-traditional scooter riders. With autonomous safety features, a longer wheelbase and sturdier construction, Superpedestrian already makes the safest and easiest-to-ride standard e-scooter. With this newest seated model, Superpedestrian is taking the lead in deploying vehicles that suit the most diverse possible range of riders, including many people with disabilities, older riders and many novice riders as well.

“We want to be a company that serves everyone. That’s why we’re the lowest-cost operator here in Baltimore and why we engineered a scooter that feels safe and comfortable to novice riders. And now with our seated scooter, we can open up the benefits of micromobility to a whole new world of riders,” said Cheyanne Woodyard, Policy Manager at Superpedestrian.

The new seated Superpedestrian model features:

  • An adjustable seat that can be easily raised or lowered 7 inches to accommodate riders of varying height
  • Special recognition on the LINK app, so riders can quickly locate a seated scooter near them
  • Durable, quality engineering that ensures a smooth and comfortable ride

Learn more at Superpedestrian.com.

CONTACT: Julie Falvo | 908-635-6695

jfalvo@rubenstein.com

Wheels Brings Shared Micromobility to UMass Boston and the MBTA

November 10, 2021

 

Wheels Brings Shared Micromobility to UMass Boston and the MBTA

 

Leading last mile, shared mobility platform connects public transit with university campus to scale local, sustainable transportation options

 

BOSTON, NOVEMBER 10, 2021: Today Wheels, the leading last-mile, shared electric mobility platform, announced its partnership with UMass Boston, bringing first-last mile connectivity to students, faculty, and staff. In addition to providing service on the university campus, Wheels will also be available at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in the coming weeks. This collaboration marks a significant moment in creating a safe, sustainable transportation option in Boston and makes Wheels the only hybrid micromobility device available in the city limits.

“We created Wheels to give people a convenient, safe way to get around while beating traffic and limiting environmental impact,” said Marco McCottry, CEO of Wheels. “As in-person activities resume, co-created micromobility solutions like this partnership with UMass Boston and the MBTA will only become more important. This collaboration shows what’s possible for universities and cities across the country, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to help Boston students, employees, and visitors connect the first and last mile between campus and mass transit.”

With students and faculty returning to campus after months of remote and hybrid classes, Wheels will supplement the university’s shuttle service and provide an accessible form of socially distanced transportation from The T’s JFK/UMass Boston MBTA station.

“With COVID-19’s initial impact, we wanted to offer additional last-mile solutions to our community members that protect the health of our students and employees,” said Daniel Scavongelli, UMass Boston. “We’re excited to partner with Wheels to give people a safe, affordable, and sustainable option to get around campus so they can focus on gearing up for the remainder or the school year.”

Students. Faculty, and Staff will have two options for using Wheels at the UMass Boston campus. First, they can sign up for Wheels’ first-ever Semester Pass, which will unlock $125 of riding credits for only $100, saving students 20%, and waive the $1 unlock fee for each ride until the end of the semester. Alternatively, riders can pay as they go ($1 per unlock plus 39 cents per minute).

Wheels launched at UMass Boston on Friday, October 15 and is now available for students, faculty, and staff. The devices are located at the West Garage, the ISC, Wheatley Hall, University Hall, the Clark Athletic Circle, and Bayside on campus (visit link here for a map), plus soon, Wheels services will extend to the UMass/JFK station and will act as a drop off/pick up location.

Today’s news comes on the heels of several recent Wheels announcements transforming urban transportation safely and sustainably. Most recently, Wheels launched an exclusive partnership with St. John’s University through E&I Cooperative Services that provided them with a quick and easy way to add micromobility to their campus. In July, Wheels launched in Santa Monica and West Hollywood to give residents and tourists an end-to-end micromobility option across Los Angeles.

To learn more, visit: https://takewheels.com.

About Wheels
Wheels is a last-mile, shared electric mobility platform whose seated form factor changes the landscape in dockless mobility. In addition to being seated, Wheels devices have a low center of gravity and 14-inch wheels to help navigate uneven pavement surfaces. Wheels recently launched a first-of-its-kind integrated helmet system that gives riders physical access to a shareable helmet with every ride they take. Because of its unique design, Wheels devices have a broad appeal, with half of its riders being women and one-third being over 35. Wheels is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, and is currently expanding operations across the U.S. and Europe. Learn more at http://www.takewheels.com.

FREE NOW integrates Dott micro-mobility services into its app

November 03, 2021

FREE NOW integrates Dott micro-mobility services into its app

 

 

Hamburg/Amsterdam, 03 November 2021 – FREE NOW, Europe’s leading multi-mobility platform and Dott, the European micro-mobility company, have today announced that Dott eScooters will soon be available to book via the FREE NOW app.

Dott’s eScooters have been available in London since June 2021, when the provider was selected in a competitive tender process for a trial of service in the city and the new partnership means FREE NOW will be the go-to app for riders across the capital.

As the services continue to work together, other vehicles such as Dott’s new e-bikes would also be integrated into the platform, allowing users to pick the best type of sustainable transport for their needs through a single app.

Internationally, the partnership with FREE NOW should also be available in France, Italy, Poland and Germany with more countries to follow.

Henri Moissinac, Co-Founder and CEO of Dott, said: “We want to make it as easy as possible for more people to choose to travel across their cities in the most sustainable and environmentally friendly way. Our new partnership with FREE NOW will give more people access to our services, helping to free our cities from congestion and pollution.”

For both companies, offering greener mobility alternatives is at the core: FREE NOW announced its Move to Net-Zero with the ambitious goal of 100 percent emission free rides by 2030 in January. The environment and social impact are at the heart of every business decision at Dott, and it is continually working to minimise its impact on the environment, reducing its carbon footprint in 2020 by 56%, compared to the previous year.

Marc Berg, CEO of FREE NOW, states: “FREE NOW is the mobility platform with the biggest choice for consumers across Europe. We are the only Mobility Super App, which has all major European eScooter operators integrated with a deep integration – this means the user journey is absolutely friction-free from booking to payment. With Dott, we are onboarding an important player in the micro-mobility sector, which is just as committed to sustainable mobility solutions as we are. We are excited to work with Dott to bring more convenient and fun eScooter and eBike options to cities all across Europe.”

About FREE NOW
FREE NOW is Europe’s leading multi-mobility platform backed by BMW Group and Daimler AG. Next to ride hailing, FREE NOW also offers micro-mobility services such as eScooters, eBikes, eMopeds as well as car sharing. It consists of the services FREE NOW (10 European markets) and Βeat (5 Latin American and 1 European market). Summed up, those services currently attract over 50 million users in 16 markets and more than 170 cities. FREE NOW is therefore the biggest multi-service mobility provider in Europe and the fastest-growing ride-hailer in Latin America. FREE NOW works with various third party providers to offer their customers an even wider range of options to get from A to B. In total, around 1,850 employees in more than 27 offices work for the services of FREE NOW, which is led by CEO Marc Berg.

Jana Tilz
Director of Communications
Phone: +49 (0) 160 95161455
Mail: jana.tilz@free-now.com

About Dott
Dott is a micromobility European operator founded by Henri Moissinac and Maxim Romain, with the mission to free our cities with clean rides for everyone. Dott currently operates over 40,000 e-scooters in top cities in Belgium, FInland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, Spain, the UK and will launch a fleet of 10,000 e-bikes in Autumn 2021. Dott has won two of the biggest micromobility tenders in the world, in both Paris and in London. Dott has a staff of 350, with its main teams located in Amsterdam, London and Paris.

Rob Haycocks
Head of PR Communications
Phone: +44 7917 724 199
Mail: rob.haycocks@ridedott.com

Zoba, the Global Leader in Micromobility Fleet Optimization, Closes Its $12m Series A Funding Round Led by NTTVC

October 25, 2021

Zoba, the Global Leader in Micromobility Fleet Optimization, Closes Its $12m Series A Funding Round Led by NTTVC

 

 

 

Zoba’s unique fleet optimization solution enables urban mobility providers to increase ridership, reduce operational costs, and be better partners to the communities they serve

 

 

 

BOSTON  — Zoba, the world leader in fleet optimization solutions for micromobility, urban mobility, and delivery providers, today announced it has closed a $12M Series A round of funding led by NTTVC, with significant participation from existing investor CRV. These funds will be used to build the company’s go-to-market efforts (including sales, marketing, and customer success) in both the US and Europe while also significantly expanding its engineering and data science capabilities in the US. NTTVC partner Fay Hazaveh Costa is joining Zoba’s Board of Directors.

The market for urban mobility services, such as e-bikes, e-scooters, autonomous vehicles, and even delivery services, is growing quickly and is slated to be a $200B global market by 2027. However, the rapid scaling of urban mobility operators has masked significant inefficiencies in their operating model related to demand forecasting and optimization. In this highly competitive market, Zoba’s AI-based fleet optimization solution provides operators with the ability to predict demand and optimize fleet performance, giving them a significant competitive edge.

“Micromobility services are transforming urban landscapes around the world, but many providers’ fleet management strategies are based on intuition and ‘best guesses,’” said Daniel Brennan, co-founder of Zoba. “Our unique solution uses decision-automation to predict true demand. That means we provide our customers with the insights to understand where demand for a micromobility fleet will be and not where they’ve been. The result is increased ridership, lower operational costs, and higher revenue.”

Already deployed with multiple industry leaders in more than 150 metro areas across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East, Zoba delivers a market-leading solution that has been proven to deliver outstanding results.

“Zoba is truly unique in this market, in that they’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the industry’s problems, then building a new solution from the ground up to address fleet optimization,” said Brandon Mah, SVP of Operations at Spin. “Instead of relying on historical trends to determine demand, Zoba gives the ability to predict where our customers will need our services beforehand. That truly enables us to increase our revenues while reducing operational costs.”

“Micromobility is an impactful asset in the fight against climate change as consumers embrace convenient ways to reduce their carbon footprint and bring joy back into their commute,” said Fay Hazaveh Costa, Zoba board member and partner at NTTVC. “Zoba is a critical partner for micromobility providers and communities to empower more citizens to take advantage of micro transportation. We’re excited to partner with the Zoba founding team to accelerate their important mission.”

The key benefits Zoba delivers to micromobility providers and adjacent markets include:

  • Increase ridership by 20% to 50% – Zoba positions your fleet to best capture demand. Teams execute Zoba’s recommended tasks, so vehicles receive more rides and stay in service for longer.
  • Improve labor productivity by 20% – Zoba manages your deployments, rebalances, and battery swaps with an efficient, easy-to-follow task list.
  • Win more permits by being a better partner – Zoba keeps vehicles in circulation, manages zone constraints, and decreases sidewalk clutter. Earn the trust of city officials and win new markets.

“Our API-centric architecture means that we easily integrate with mobility providers’ existing infrastructure,” said Joseph Brennan, co-founder of Zoba. “That architecture also means our core technology is extensible to adjacent markets including delivery, autonomous vehicles, fast delivery, and similar segments.”

About Zoba
Zoba is currently the world leader in fleet optimization solutions for micromobility providers. The company’s API-first platform powers fleet rebalancing, driver tasking and routing, and dynamic pricing for the world’s top mobility operators in over 150 cities around the globe. By using Zoba, mobility operators dramatically increase revenue while taking the guesswork out of operations. Zoba was founded out of Harvard and MIT and is backed by leading investors, including NTTVC, CRV, Founder Collective, and Mark Cuban. For more information about Zoba, please visit www.zoba.com or reach out to us directly at https://www.zoba.com/contact.

About NTTVC
Launched in 2019, NTTVC is an independent venture capital firm formed in collaboration with NTT. Leveraging a unique partnership-focused model and deep industry network, NTTVC unlocks doors to relationships that can help startups reach global scale. With its $500M inaugural fund, the firm invests broadly in technology startups of all stages and sectors, with an emphasis on the future of enterprise, digital health, and innovations powered by AI, machine learning, and data. NTTVC is headquartered in Silicon Valley. Learn more at nttvc.com.

Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

 

SWIFTMILE BRINGS MICROMOBILITY CHARGING TO MIAMI

June 15, 2021

 

 

SWIFTMILE BRINGS MICROMOBILITY

CHARGING TO MIAMI

 

 

Swiftmile’s solar-powered micromobility hubs to help Miami charge and organize its shared e-scooters.

 

 

June 15, 2021, Miami – The Miami Parking Authority (MPA) and Swiftmile today announced a partnership to bring a network of micromobility charging stations (“Mobility Hubs”) to Miami, in an effort to increase access to sustainable, electric transportation.

Swiftmile began installing Mobility Hubs throughout Brickell and Downtown Miami this week to coincide with the highly-anticipated CoMotion Miami Live event, where the CEOs of both MPA and Swiftmile will take the stage to discuss urban mobility. Swiftmile will deploy a total of 25 Hubs this month on MPA properties around the City, which will mark the company’s largest deployment to date. The Hubs will power and organize e-scooters from the City’s shared micromobility operators, as well as personal e-scooters and e-bikes. By the end of 2022, Swiftmile aims to deploy 100+ Hubs across the City to accommodate more than 800 vehicles.

“Whether you’re a scooter rider or scooter skeptic, Swiftmile Hubs are a win for everyone in the City of Miami,” said Swiftmile CEO Colin Roche. “This is a city of ingenuity, and we’re excited to join fellow innovators in making Miami more sustainable, tech-forward and ultimately clutter-free.”

The City of Miami relaunched its e-scooter program in February 2021 with a renewed focus on safety and sidewalk clutter reduction. This network of Swiftmile Mobility Hubs will help the City address these priorities by offering a space for riders to charge and park vehicles, enabling them to keep Miami’s streets clear and ensure a fully-charged battery for the next rider.

Swiftmile’s Miami hubs will be equipped with solar panels that charge e-scooters with clean, renewable energy. Each Hub will also be equipped with a digital screen that generates revenue for the Authority by displaying ads from local businesses and national brands, alongside public service announcements and real-time transit information. These screens will help to support both the return of local businesses activity and of public transit ridership as Miami recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Miami is at the forefront of the latest lifestyle trends and micromobility use is a top choice for urbanites,” said Alejandra “Alex” Argudin, Chief Executive Officer of the MPA. “This collaboration is aimed at harnessing the power of technology to create a more sustainable city environment with lower emissions, less noise pollution and reduced traffic congestion.”

On the heels of President Biden’s $2T+ infrastructure announcement, the MPA’s move is the latest sign that the public sector is ready to make big investments in clean transportation infrastructure. This partnership also aligns with Miami Mayor Francis Suarez’s efforts to make Miami an “innovation hub” that prioritizes forward-thinking transportation tech. Suarez led the City’s initial launch of its e-scooter pilot in April 2019.

“I believe in e-scooters as a viable transportation alternative, but in order for it to succeed, we must balance easy access to micromobility with organized hubs that help keep the sidewalks clear for pedestrians,” said Miami City Commissioner Ken Russell. “By inviting Swiftmile to our City, we are one step closer to unlocking a future that does not require daily personal car use.”

“The Miami Movement has gained another Silicon Valley star today,” said Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. “We know the future of transportation is electrified and we’re honored to champion that future here with Swiftmile.”

Swiftmile Hubs are already deployed in cities including Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and Berlin. Swiftmile is also exploring partnerships to adapt to evolving shared micromobility trends, such as the rise in e-mopeds and the demand for solar-powered charging infrastructure. To catch up on the latest announcements from Swiftmile, visit swiftmile.com/news.

 

About Miami Parking Authority

Recognized as a premier parking organization and a leader in technology integration and innovation, the Miami Parking Authority (MPA) has taken a leap forward in the past decade to support micro-mobility options; pilot in-ground sensors; and foster measures that help drive economic development in the city of Miami.

Officially known as the Department of Off-Street Parking of the City of Miami, the MPA was created in 1955 by a Special Act of the Florida State Legislature and incorporated into the City of Miami’s Charter in 1968. For more information, visit www.miamiparking.com.

Twitter: @miamiparking | Facebook: @miamiparking | Instagram: @mpacommunity

Media Contact:

Margarita Rohaidy Delgado margarita@mrd-consulting.com (305) 336-6267

About Swiftmile

Swiftmile is the pioneer and market leader in LEV charging, offering a new class of green infrastructure that will set the foundation for “gas stations of the future.” We build and operate Mobility Hubs to charge and organize e-scooters, e-bikes and e-mopeds, at little or no cost to cities thanks to an on-Hub advertising screen. Swiftmile’s infrastructure is driving battery and charging standardization for the global micromobility sector, with Hubs across North America and Europe. Swiftmile is based in San Carlos, CA. For the latest updates and information on Swiftmile, visit https://swiftmile.com/

Media Contact:

Kristin Musulin kristin@electricavenue.city 609-680-1777

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Stantec GenerationAV™ partners with Swiftmile to advance micromobility and create AV-ready streets

February 16, 2021

 

 

 

 

Stantec GenerationAV™ partners with Swiftmile to advance micromobility and create AV-ready streets

 

Micromobility Hubs will keep light electric vehicles orderly and charged while serving as a platform for autonomous and connected vehicle technology

 

 

 

Stantec GenerationAV™ and Swiftmile have entered into a partnership to bring Swiftmile’s Micromobility Hubs to cities, municipalities, and campuses, helping scale adoption of electric micromobility while providing a new platform for integrating AV and connected vehicle technology. The partnership addresses immediate needs such as sidewalk safety and parking for micromobility, while creating an AV-ready future, pairing the deployment of mobility hubs with mobility programming, complete streets planning, and design.

Micromobility is establishing itself as a lasting element of the urban streetscape and a key mechanism for transport decarbonization. E-scooter and bikeshare ridership was on an impressive growth trajectory before the COVID-19 pandemic, and has been widely supported by public investments in protected bike lanes and open streets over the past year. With increased action by cities and a continued growth in modal options, industry analysts predict that micromobility will thrive over the long term.

The micromobility sector’s continued growth will require more safe places to ride as well as new public infrastructure for vehicles to park and charge. Swiftmile’s Micromobility Hubs can charge any type of light electric vehicle — shared and personally-owned. Hubs include smart technology that can help AVs navigate in complex urban environments, while also providing docking and charging space for delivery bots, which are already being piloted in some cities.

“Both micromobility and automated mobility are critical pieces of the transportation puzzle moving forward, for large and medium-sized cities,” said Corey Clothier, Director of Stantec GenerationAV™. “Our partnership with Swiftmile will connect the dots from urban planning, AV education, and smart technology to make new mobility options work for cities, campuses, and developers alike.”

Swiftmile’s charging stations can integrate mid-band 5G capabilities, which enables data exchange, vehicle to infrastructure communication, AV localization and other intelligent transportation system (ITS) functions. The integration of additional LiDAR sensors can track traffic volumes, trajectory, and speed. This technology-enabled data collection can help inform and plan mobility programs that suit the distinct needs of the community.

“Swiftmile sits at the confluence of three movements: the micromobility boom, the reinvention of urban streetscapes, and growing public investment in green transportation infrastructure,” said Swiftmile CEO Colin Roche. “This new ‘better together’ partnership will help us both accelerate these 3 major movements at scale in 2021 and beyond.”

“We have the tools to design and plan smarter complete streets while providing flexible, sustainable mobility options for people,” said Kate Jack, Smart Mobility Lead at Stantec. “By pairing the next generation of technology with a city’s transportation and development plans, we can create mobility hubs that advance equitable, accessible transportation options in all kinds of communities.”

Learn more about Stantec GenerationAV™ and Swiftmile.

About Swiftmile
Swiftmile is the new class of green infrastructure helping decarbonize urban transport. We build and operate Micromobility Hubs that charge and organize e-scooters, e-bikes, and other light electric vehicles (LEVs). Swiftmile can offer these systems at little or no cost to cities through an on-Hub out-of-home advertising (OOH) unit. Swiftmile is the pioneer and market leader in LEV charging, and is helping drive battery and charging standardization for the entire micromobility sector. Swiftmile is based in San Carlos, CA.

About Stantec
Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That’s why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

We care about the communities we serve—because they’re our communities too. This allows us to assess what’s needed and connect our expertise, to appreciate nuances and envision what’s never been considered, to bring together diverse perspectives so we can collaborate toward a shared success.

We’re designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.

Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN.

For more information about Stantec’s response to COVID-19, visit Responding to COVID-19.

Media Contact
Colin Nekolaichuk
Stantec Media Relations
Ph (437) 225-6384
colin.nekolaichuk@stantec.com