Electric Scooter Rideshare Launching in Pittsburgh
Scoobi will offer an eco-friendly alternative to cars and a speedier alternative to bikes beginning in June.
photo: Scoobi
Yinzers and tourists will now have the opportunity to scoot around Pittsburgh on, well, a scooter.
Scoobi, a Pittsburgh-based fleet of 100 dockless electric scooters, will be available for rent to interested riders in June.
The scooters, which are referred to individually as Scoobis, may be rented by any person older than 18 with a valid license. Renting a Scoobi costs $5 for the first 20 minutes and 20 cents after.
The scooters will be primarily concentrated in Downtown and the East End. Riders will be able to locate a Scoobi by using the Scoobi mobile app to find the nearest scooter with the highest battery life on a map. Riders can then reserve the scooter and have 10 minutes to get to it. The app not only displays a Scoobi’s battery life, but it also allows users to start a scooter and access the vehicle’s lockable trunk and the two helmets and phone chargers within.
Only one rider per Scoobi is allowed. First-time users will be required to watch a few short videos explaining the rental process before being allowed to access a scooter. The rideshare suggests riders wear long sleeves and pants when riding.
Scoobis are able to travel up to 30 mph with a range of 34 miles per charge. The scooters are environmentally conscious, made almost completely out of recyclable materials.
Scoobi CEO Mike Moran says the rideshare’s goal is to provide an affordable and environmentally conscious way to explore the city, according Business Wire.
“Scooters allow people to skip the cramped city bus or expensive rideshare car and enjoy a low-cost way to get around town,” Moran says.
According to the TomTom Traffic Index, Pittsburgh drivers spend an average of around 81 hours per year commuting, primarily in traffic through the downtown area.
Scoobi riders will be expected to plug the charging cable back in their scooter and end their ride through the app once they reach their destination. They will be able to park and charge their scooters at certain parking garages around the city. Riders will also have the option to park on the street in various “blue zones” throughout the East End and in parts of the North Shore and South Side.
Parking in garages must be reserved in advance through the mobile app. Parking outside of a designated Scoobi blue zone may result in a parking fee.
Pittsburgh isn’t the first American city to make this service available — electric scooter rideshare startup Bird, which launched in the fall of 2017, is currently operating in several Californian cities. The service can also be found in Europe and Asia.
