The shared electric vehicle company Revel announced that it is rolling out its fleet of 400 mopeds that will run via a smartphone app to all of the eight wards of Washington, D.C. this weekend.
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) have given a permit to Revel, among other companies, as part of a new program.
“Starting soon, Washingtonians will have a new way to quickly, easily, and conveniently get wherever they may need to go throughout the city,” said Frank Reig, CEO and co-founder of the New York-based company.
Praising DDOT for its cooperation with Revel, Reig said:
“This could not have been done without the leadership and collaboration of DDOT and the entire District. We share their goals of providing new, reliable transportation options that work seamlessly in the city’s current regulatory, transportation, and parking systems and help the District meet its aggressive carbon emissions goals.”
Brandon Todd, Ward 4 City Councilmember, also expressed his contentment about Revel’s launch:
“District residents have embraced the growing roster of public and private transportation choices for their commutes and trips throughout our community. As our city continues to grow and demands on the current transportation systems increase, we’re glad to welcome Revel as another environmentally friendly, affordable option, further distinguishing the nation’s capital as a leader committed to innovative, sustainable transit.”
“This partnership was a no brainer – Revels don’t require any new laws, infrastructure, or investment and I applaud the Mayor and her team at DDOT for being forward thinking and continuing to create a climate for businesses to thrive and grow,” Todd added.
D.C. is the first city Revel has launched its fleet of all-electric shared mopeds after its hometown New York City. In order to be able to ride its vehicles, one must be over 21, have a driver’s license and provide necessary safe driving record background checks. After the approval, riders will be able to find, reserve and unlock a parked moped by using the Revel mobile app on their smartphone.
The Revel mopeds come with two helmets that are mandatory to be worn during rides, along with hairnets at the request of the rider. The helmets will be cleaned every two or three days. The company also offers free driving lessons every day, as well as third-party liability insurance worth of $300,000 per rider.
Moped riding with Revel’s service is limited to local streets and the service area. Sidewalks cannot be used for riding, but permitted for parking outside D.C.’s downtown area.
D.C. is introducing shared electric mopeds within its four-month demonstration pilot, which will allow DDOT to evaluate the integration of mopeds into the city’s transportation network. DDOT Director Jeff Marootian had stated that shared moped services should be viewed as an “opportunity to reduce dependence on single occupancy vehicles and expand the sustainable transportation options we offer to residents and visitors.”
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