By Alyssah Adamy
This weekend citizens of Grand Rapids prepare themselves for a weekend of fun with new e-scooters.
The new E-scooter share program features a new form of cheaper, smaller, and energy efficient transportation that is being launched in partnership with micro mobility partner Spin.
This weekend, Spin is offering free rides up to 60-minutes on these scooters. These are meant to support less accommodated areas of downtown. This will mean that the buses aren’t as crowded and more people will be able to get around without risk of getting Covid.
After the free launch weekend, Spin e-scooters rentals will start at $1 to unlock a scooter and 15 cents per minute.
“There is a half priced option for persons who qualify for state or federal benefits as well,” said Kristen Bennett, a member of the e-scooter project.
With a maximum speed of 10 miles per hour, these scooters will get you anywhere local in a fast, efficient way.
The Grand Rapids City Commission approved the $400,000 e-scooter pilot program. Spin is initially launching 300 e-scooters in downtown Grand Rapids and is willing to grow the fleet as large as 1,500 e-scooters.
“We are looking to add electric bikes as well,” said Bennett.
This new form of public transportation is expected to be a cheaper option for people who don’t have a long distance and don’t want to pay for more than they need. Although Spin urges people to wear helmets, they are not required.
These scooters are electronic so they will be battery powered and many charging stations have been placed around downtown Grand Rapids. This will be an energy conscious way to get around town, much more so than traveling by car or bus. However none of those options will be eliminated by the new scooter traffic. The e-scooters are specifically for areas where transportation isn’t always available.
Free scooter rides will be available this weekend through midnight on Sunday, Oct. 4 in downtown Grand Rapids where citizens in under funded transportation areas will get a taste of freedom as they explore the town on two wheels.
Spin is reaching out to its younger audience by creating the Spin app, making finding e-scooter ports near you easier and more fun.
Aside from wearing helmets, Spin urges riders to watch out for cars and make hand signals so that cars know where they are turning and ease around them. Much like golf carts, these scooters are not for main roads and highways. These scooters are solely for local use.
In light of the pandemic, Spin has taken some safety precautions.
“We will have trucks come in at night and take the bikes out to charge and in that time we will also sanitize them,” Bennett said.
They will be sanitized daily but be sure to sanitize your hands after riding a scooter.
Spin is owned by Ford Motor Company located in San Francisco, California.
Owned by Ford Motor Company you say. huh
And its also said that its a growing market in Middle east, especially the electric scooters in Dubai are on a rise in sales.