OakDOT and Revel Launch Shared E-Moped Service

News from: Oakland Dept. of Transportation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 10, 2020

OakDOT and Revel Launch Shared E-Moped Service

New fleet of 1,000 mopeds further expands shared vehicle options in Oakland; Revel will hire more than 30 new people in the Oakland area

Oakland, CA – The City of Oakland’s Department of Transportation (OakDOT) and shared electric vehicle company Revel today announced the launch of Oakland’s first shared all-electric moped fleet, as part of the City’s Car Sharing permit program. Revel will operate a fleet of 1,000 vehicles, which are currently being placed on Oakland streets. The mopeds will be available to rent for licensed drivers over the age of 21 who pass an initial safe driving record check.

Oakland will be Revel’s first market on the West Coast, and Revel’s service area will cover the entire city.

“OakDOT is excited to add this new service to our expanding suite of shared mobility options,” OakDOT Director Ryan Russo said. “In 2017, Oakland and Berkeley launched the first multi-jurisdictional, free-floating car share program in the country, allowing users to rent and park vehicles at any legal parking space within the service area. Today, we add a second operator to that program, offering a space efficient and sustainable electric vehicle. This affordable new transportation option will be available through the entire City, helping OakDOT to achieve our goal of equitable access to shared mobility services. Our surveys show that services such as shared mopeds can help Oaklanders access jobs, grocery stores, transit and more, without the burden of private vehicle ownership.”

“Revel is excited to serve every neighborhood across Oakland, giving residents from Rockridge to East Oakland a fun and efficient new way to get around,” said Frank Reig, CEO and co-founder of Revel. “We’ve worked closely with the Oakland Department of Transportation to ensure our system will meet the city’s needs and help Oakland move towards its emissions reduction goals, and we look forward to building on this partnership.”

As part of its commitment to Oakland, Revel will create over 30 new jobs with benefits.

Revel will also operate its Access program in Oakland, allowing riders who are eligible for or actively participating in any local, state, or federal assistance programs to receive a 40 percent discount on rides. Active military personnel and veterans will also be eligible to receive a 20 percent discount on rides.

Revel takes extensive measures to ensure its riders are safe and responsible. Prior to riding, users must upload their drivers’ license, allowing Revel to confirm that they are 21 or older and do not have a history of reckless driving. Users must also upload a personal photo so Revel can ensure that the drivers’ license uploaded is theirs. To date in other cities, approximately one out of every 12 applicants does not make it past this screening.

Once users are approved, they can find, reserve, and unlock a Revel vehicle via the Revel mobile app. Each Revel comes with two U.S. Department of Transportation-certified helmets and is built to carry up to two riders. Like every other motor vehicle on the road in Oakland, Revels are registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Revels are limited to local streets and are capped at a speed of 30 miles per hour. Rides cost $1 per person to start, followed by $0.29 per minute to ride. To get started with Revel, Oakland riders can download the app at gorevel.com/app.

Under the City’s car share program, users of Revel and other free-floating car share services can unlock and park their vehicle in any legal parking space within the operator’s service area, including in Residential Parking Permit (RPP) zones and at metered parking spaces. Revel users should park their vehicle perpendicular to the streets, with the rear wheel to the curb, and park at the painted “T” when at a metered parking space. Revel vehicles are subject to all other applicable parking rules and citations. Report improperly parked vehicles to Parking Enforcement through OAK 311 or by calling the City’s parking enforcement dispatch at (510) 238-3099.

Oakland’s car share permit requires the operators to do community outreach and educate customers about safe riding and proper parking. Revel will offer free lessons seven days a week for Oakland residents interested in additional riding or safety instruction, starting today at 1960 Mandela Parkway (Bay 9). Users can sign up for classes on Revel’s website starting today. Oakland riders will be covered by third-party liability insurance and are required to abide by all local traffic laws, including not riding in bike lanes or on freeways, including the Bay Bridge.

Revel is based in New York City and launched in 2018 with a small pilot in Brooklyn. Revel later expanded to 1,000 mopeds in Brooklyn and Queens, and launched its service in Washington, DC, Austin, Texas, and Miami, Florida. Oakland will be Revel’s fifth market.

The launch of Revel’s e-moped program comes just two days after OakDOT and shared-mobility service provider Lime launched the first-ever e-scooter pilot program for riders with disabilities. The Lime pilot features an e-scooter intended for riders who are not comfortable or unable to stand for a long time and/or have limited capacity for walking. This new accessible micro-mobility for Oakland residents with disabilities to travel and commute to work/home, run errands, and make their lives more convenient as it increases their transportation options.

More information about the City’s Car Share Program can be found at oaklandca.gov/topics/car-share-program

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