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Boosted's planned products included e-bikes and an 'Ultimate' skateboard
Boosted was working on a number of boards before Lime snapped it up, including two e-bikes and an 'Ultimate' skateboard.
Scoot makes its new single-seat mopeds available in Los Angeles
You don't have to wait to try Bird's latest take on electric two-wheelers, provided you're an Angeleno. Bird's sub-brand Scoot has rolled out electric mopeds in Los Angeles as part of a pilot program. It's only a single-seater versus the two-seat Bird Cruiser, but the concept is otherwise the same -- it's a faster, more comfortable option for those who want to get around quickly and don't want to hop in a rideshare car. You can hail one from the Bird or Scoot apps, and it includes a helmet if you can't bring your own.
San Francisco grants Jump, Lime, Scoot and Spin e-scooter licenses
The relationship between San Franscico and sharable electric scooter programs has been contentious, with city authorities stepping in last year to regulate the services. Following the latest round of permit applications, the city has announced that four companies will be allowed to operate electric scooter programs for the next year: Jump, Lime, Scoot and Spin.
Bird's purchase of Scoot lets it back into San Francisco
You knew it was just a matter of time before there was further consolidation in the e-scooter world. Bird is acquiring Scoot in a move that both describe as a matter of "scale" -- that is, it'll help them take on heavyweight rivals like Lime. Scoot will continue to operate under its own name as a subsidiary of Bird. It's not certain how much Bird paid for the deal, but TechCrunch noted that Scoot was valued at $71 million.
Scoot will add locks to its scooters to combat theft and vandalism
In August, San Francisco's Municipal Transportation Agency awarded two companies, Scoot and Skip, permits to operate their scooters in the city. The scooter pilot program has now been running for a month and Scoot says it has learned a few things during that time, including that its Kick scooters are a lot easier to steal and vandalize than it once thought. Because of that, the company will start adding locks to its scooters come December.
Scoot brings electric scooter rentals to Santiago, Chile
Scoot is expanding into its third city and it's bringing electric scooters to Santiago, Chile. As part of a pilot program, Scoot will be allowed to launch a fleet of its electric kick scooters in the business district of Las Condes, and up to 500 of the devices will ultimately be approved for operation. "We are excited for this new means of public transportation entering Chile," Las Condes Mayor Joaquín Lavín said in a statement. "This pilot program will be available in the popular business district of Las Condes, where short trips are common. We look forward to people trying this new service and integrating it into their lives. This is a great opportunity for people to get out of their cars and reduce their environmental impact."
Judge rejects Lime request to block e-scooter rivals in San Francisco
Lime just lost a last-minute bid to delay the launch of San Francisco's electric scooter pilot program. A judge has denied the company's request for a temporary restraining order that would have blocked Skip and Scoot from launching their services in the city on October 15th. The company had wanted the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to reevaluate its application for an e-scooter permit, and claimed it had "no choice" but to use the court to force the city's hand. Not surprisingly, both sides are clashing over the outcome.
Lyft's first electric scooters arrive in Denver
Lyft is making moves in the electric scooter market, as it is bringing the dockless devices to Denver, the first US city in which it will operate its scooter service. Lyft has permits to operate scooters and electric bikes in the Colorado city, and it's starting out with the former. Around 100 scooters will be centered in areas that are underserved by public transport, helping commuters get to bus and train stops more easily -- the Lyft app will soon alert you when you're close to a stop.
Bird, Lime, Uber and Lyft strike out on SF scooter permits
After months of deliberation, San Francisco's Municipal Transportation Agency has finally awarded scooter permits to two companies, and not to the ones you might expect. While Bird, Lime and Spin were the first to roll into the city earlier this year, their applications for scooter permits were denied. Permit applications from other big players like Uber and Lyft were denied as well. The only companies to have been awarded permits for a one-year powered scooter pilot program are Skip and Scoot, which are relatively smaller in size.
Scoot adds a bike-sharing service as it expands to Barcelona
Scoot is getting into bicycles. The company known in San Francisco for its red electric scooters populated by riders with lightning bolt-emblazoned black helmets is adding bikes to its lineup. But not in San Francisco. Instead, the company is opening its first international location in Barcelona where it'll drop 1,000 electric bikes and 500 scooters on the streets of the Spanish city.
Scoot is adding battery-swapping cars to its San Francisco lineup
If you spend any time in San Francisco you'll see them. The red electric scooters with a white lighting bolt and the word "Scoot" plastered on the side of the cargo box. Scoot, the company behind these ubiquitous two-wheeled vehicles has been able to litter the city with over 700 of these bikes that can be picked up and dropped off via an app almost anywhere within the city. Now, the short-term rental company is eyeing cars.
As Scoot has grown, so has the size of its rental bikes
Scoot's red scooters, frequently seen weaving in and out of San Francisco traffic like tiny army ants, are getting an upgrade. Not only are the rental scooters getting bigger, but they, thankfully, will look a lot better than the bikes the company offers.
Scoot launches electric car rentals and plans second city expansion
Scoot is moving beyond its namesake. Today the company announced the availability of the Scoot Quad, a four-wheeled electric car from Nissan called the New Mobility Concept (worst name ever) based on the Renault Twizy. The company's fleet of scooters will be joined by 10 Quads as the company evolves into a light-electric vehicle sharing company that will soon be expanding into an unnamed second city. Mike Waltman, vice president of fleet said, "We are narrowing it down now and we expect to be the second city next year." But the Quad is here now and I got a chance to drive it through the streets of San Francisco ahead of today's launch.
A scooter-rental startup dabbles in cars
If you live in San Francisco you've seen them. The red Scoot scooters buzz pass vehicles trapped in San Francisco's increasingly frustrating traffic. The riders' helmets sport a lightning bolt while the signage on the vehicles touts a cheap alternative to Uber, Lyft and other car-sharing services as a way to get around town. Those tiny rolling billboards are working. Scooter-rental service Scoot is currently adding an additional 150 scooters to its current fleet of 250. The new Scoot Cargos are larger and less about commuting and more about running errands. It's a logical expansion for the company. But its future might lie beyond two wheels.
London will test smart crossing system to keep pedestrians safe
Sure, pedestrian detection tech for cars is already in the works, but the city of London wants to keep people even safer by equipping its crossings with a bunch of sensors and devices. London Mayor Boris Johnson just announced that the city will try out a smart crossing system, which he claims has never been tested anywhere in the world before. It uses cameras mounted on traffic lights to detect if pedestrians are piling up, and it automatically adjusts signals to give large crowds longer time to cross the road. In the future, the reverse might also be true: the city's transportation agency plans to tweak it so that lights change more quickly when everyone's safely on the other side.
Scoot aims to be Zipcar of electric scooters, launches in SF
Aiming to be the Zipcar of electric scooters, Scoot Networks has officially launched in San Francisco after months of beta testing. Ideal for areas with problematic parking, the Chinese-made scooters are 100 percent electric with a 20Ah SLA battery each, and there's even a dock built into the dash to charge most Android or iPhone models. With a screaming top speed of 30 miles per hour, they're obviously meant for short trips and not for the highway. It costs $10 to sign up, $5 per month, then $5 per hour. You can also get a $10 per day deal or a $19 per month option that includes three workdays or overnights. Even though you don't need a motorcycle license to rent one, the company does offer tutorials to get newbies comfortable with the vehicles. If you do have a license, you can opt for the $185 a month plan that lets you get your own personal scooter. A potential issue is that the battery on the electric scooter only lasts around 20 to 30 miles, but San Francisco might have enough EV-friendly parking spots to make that less of a problem. You can watch the company's promo video after the break.
