Revel Mopeds, a New Addition to the Micromobility Landscape

Henry Grabar takes a closer look at Revel mopeds, which rolled out onto the streets of New York and Washington, D.C., this summer. "In their first 60 days of operation, the company says, the scooters clocked more than 300,000 rides—meaning the service had obtained, overnight, almost half the daily 2018 ridership of New York’s inter-borough ferry system, which receives hundreds of millions in public subsidies."

The mopeds have a top speed of 30 miles per hour, reports Grabar. "One interesting thing about the Revel is that its model hews more closely to existing car culture than the weirder locomotion startups that preceded it. Signing up for Revel requires a driver’s license; users are responsible for traffic violations they commit while riding."

Cities still have a need for fast, flexible modes that can replace car travel, particularly for short trips. And as shared mobility has evolved, travelers are more willing to try out new devices like the Revel moped. "Commuters are now accustomed to trying new things to get where they want to go," notes Grabar.