Whizz Expands to Philadelphia with Affordable E-Bike Rentals for Delivery Workers | September 6th , 2024

Lyft expands its micromobility division, partners with Bird for scooter rentals, and Scout Motors unveils new electric vehicles.

Issue [#255] - Every week, we deliver analysis and curation of emerging mobility news - post a job listing here!

If you're heading to MOVE America in Austin, TX at the end of September, our friends, Harry Campbell, The Rideshare Guy, and HUB Insurance, are hosting a happy hour at the end of day one - register here.

Interested in hosting a happy hour of your own? Reach out to harry@therideshareguy.com for details on how to partner up!  Upcoming events include: LA Tech Week, CoMotion LA and CES.

Micromobility

Lyft’s micromobility division is being rebranded as Lyft Urban Solutions (LUS) to focus on e-bikes, scooters, docking stations, and software for cities. The company is scaling back R&D and cutting standalone dockless bikes and scooters, while continuing partnerships with Bird and Spin. LUS supports over 100 million annual rides across 50 markets globally. Lyft aims to integrate its micromobility solutions into city infrastructure, enhancing urban transportation and boosting business performance | Lyft

Whizz, an e-bike rental startup focused on food delivery workers, is expanding from NYC to Philadelphia. Offering e-bikes for $150 per month, with repairs and replacements included, the service addresses affordability and safety concerns. Whizz provides installment plans to buy bikes, GPS tracking, and theft protection. With 2,500 bikes already in NYC, the company raised $12 million for expansion, aiming to support delivery workers with reliable, cost-effective transportation solutions | Axios

Lyft and Bird have partnered to offer Bird scooter rentals through the Lyft app in over 25 U.S. cities. This collaboration builds on Lyft’s existing partnership with Spin, providing users a seamless experience to rent scooters without downloading another app. The partnership aims to expand access to cost-effective and sustainable transportation options, enhancing urban mobility. Cities include Seattle, Sacramento, Nashville, and Orlando, with more launches planned in the coming weeks | Lyft 

Product Launches & Updates

Supersmith’s new 3-wheeled foldable mobility scooter, the 3Scooter, features patented EverLevel technology that adjusts the wheels for stability on uneven ground. Designed for users with walking difficulties, it aims to reduce tipping risks and eliminate negative stigmas around mobility scooters. Lightweight with an adjustable seat, it allows riders to maintain eye-level communication. Launching in late 2025, the 3Scooter is initially targeting UK markets before expanding globally | ZAGDaily

Segway-Ninebot's new ZT3 Pro is an off-road electric scooter featuring 11-inch tubeless tires, front fork suspension, and 6 inches of ground clearance for smoother rides on rough terrain. It offers a top speed of 25mph and a range of up to 43 miles in eco mode. Safety features include traction control, disc brakes, and Bluetooth security. Available for preorder on September 26th, the ZT3 Pro ships in late October. Pricing details are yet to be announced | The Verge

Scout Motors, owned by Volkswagen, will unveil its new electric SUV and pickup truck on October 24, 44 years after the last Scout model. Designed for off-road use, the EVs will feature rugged, boxy designs. Production will begin in 2026 at a $2 billion factory in South Carolina. Scout Motors aims to revive its legacy with these tough, electric vehicles, built on a new platform tailored for adventurous driving | Car and Driver

Ridehailing, Carsharing, & Delivery 

Waymo aims to build trust in its self-driving cars by showcasing extensive safety data. With 22.2 million miles driven across four cities, Waymo claims its autonomous vehicles are significantly safer than human drivers. The company’s new safety hub highlights that its cars have 73% fewer injury-causing crashes compared to human drivers. Waymo is also pushing for independent validation to further bolster confidence in its technology | The Verge

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi expressed optimism about the company’s growth in South Korea, despite being an underdog to Kakao, which holds over 90% of the market. Uber's rebranded taxi-hailing service, Uber Taxi, has attracted about 20% of local taxi drivers. Passenger numbers grew 80% in early 2024, with international traveler usage more than doubling. Khosrowshahi emphasized Uber’s potential for continued market share growth | Reuters

Waymo is exploring a driverless teen service, expanding in San Francisco despite existing age restrictions and competition from UberTeen. Harry Campbell notes Waymo’s safety edge over Uber, whose drivers lack additional screenings, and highlights potential legal risks. Read Campbell’s full thoughts here | The San Francisco Standard

Vay, a Berlin-based startup, is expanding into B2B services by leveraging its teleoperated car-sharing technology. The startup allows customers in Berlin and Las Vegas to hail cars remotely operated by employees. Vay is now partnering with Peugeot and Poppy to test its technology on various fleets. By offering tele-driving at a lower cost than traditional ride-hailing, Vay aims to carve out a new mobility niche and attract business clients | TechCrunch

Investment & Deals

Skarper, a British start-up, has secured £4.5 million in new funding, raising its total to £12.8 million, led by Adjuvo with support from investors like Yaron Kottler, Starry Group, and Mobilitech Capital. The company’s patented, portable drive system, co-developed with Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Advanced Technologies, attaches to a bike's disc brake to seamlessly convert it into an e-bike. With a 250W motor and 240Wh battery offering a 50km range, Skarper's pre-orders have sold out, with UK deliveries set for December 2024 and plans to expand into Europe by 2025 | MicromobilityBiz

Alerce, a Spanish transport software provider, has acquired WeMob, a leading fleet management and telematics SaaS solutions provider in Iberia. This strategic move will expand Alerce's product offering, enhancing customer service and providing cost and environmental efficiencies. WeMob's loyal customer base of over 500 clients underscores its high-quality offering, aligning perfectly with Alerce's customer-centric approach | Tech.eu

Belgian e-bike maker Cowboy raised €5 million, led by its first Asian investor, Cypress Capital, with support from Index Ventures and others. The funding aims to drive Cowboy’s profitability by 2025 through product innovation, supply chain improvements, and enhanced customer service | ZAGDaily

Wunder Mobility, a German SaaS platform, acquired Vienna-based goUrban, becoming the largest independent shared mobility platform | ZAGDaily

Cities & Policy

Boulder is offering income-qualified residents vouchers for e-bikes, with applications open from Sept. 16-30, 2024. Eligible participants, earning 80% or less of Boulder County’s median income, can receive up to $2,700 for e-cargo and adaptive bikes, along with a $200 Starter Kit for accessories. Recipients will be notified by Sept. 30 and must use the vouchers at local bike shops. Funded by the city’s Climate Tax and supported by Community Cycles, this initiative promotes sustainable, equitable transportation while supporting local businesses | City of Boulder

Chicago's annual Bike the Drive, a celebration of cycling, drew 15,000 riders to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Mayor Brandon Johnson joined the festivities, demonstrating his commitment to sustainable transportation. The event featured a vibrant festival with live music, food, and activities for families. Participants relished the unique opportunity to ride on a closed highway and admire the city's stunning lakefront. The Active Transportation Alliance used the event to advocate for safer cycling infrastructure and a lower default speed limit. As Chicago strives to become a more bike-friendly city, Bike the Drive serves as a powerful testament to the joy and benefits of cycling | StreetsBlog Chicago

Finland cut road deaths by 29% in a decade, outpacing the EU's 16% drop, earning the 2024 Road Safety Performance Index prize. Using the Vision Zero model, Finland installed speed cameras, built pedestrian paths, mandated motorcycle helmet use at 99%, and allowed random alcohol tests. It investigates all fatal crashes. With 20,418 EU road deaths in 2023 and just a 1% decline, the ETSC calls for an EU road safety agency to monitor vehicle safety and automated driving technologies | Forbes

In August, Richmond, California, secured a $550 million settlement from Chevron, avoiding a contentious ballot measure that would have taxed every barrel refined at its century-old plant. This came after years of tension, including a 2012 refinery fire that sent 15,000 residents to hospitals and fueled local activism. The swift settlement showcases the growing leverage of grassroots efforts, with Richmond’s victory inspiring nearby cities, such as Martinez, to pursue similar initiatives aimed at holding major polluters accountable through taxation and negotiation rather than prolonged legal battles | Politico

Cypress, Texas schools faced a bus route crisis due to budget cuts and a nationwide driver shortage. Long pick-up lines and traffic congestion ensued. Districts paid parents to drive kids, as bus ridership declined due to funding cuts, suburban sprawl, and negative publicity. New routing tech, private transport partnerships, and public transit promotion aimed to solve the problem. Yet, low-income families and students with disabilities continued to face challenges | Slate

New Products, Features, and Data Points

Korea’s Institute of Machinery and Materials showcased a robotic wheelchair with deformable wheels that adapt to obstacles using a smart chain system, inspired by water droplets | TechCrunch

Volkswagen's new AI voice assistant, IDA, is rolling out in select models. Drivers need to subscribe to access ChatGPT, powered by Cerence. IDA handles basic requests locally, but complex tasks are processed in the cloud. Some Volkswagen models, like the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport, won't have access to ChatGPT until later | The Verge

Jobs Board

Here’s a selection of job openings from our partners. Want to see your listing here? Click here for pricing/details.

Customer (Partner) Success Manager - AirGarage - United States

Business Operations Manager - GetScale - Austin, TX / Hybrid or Remote

Inside Sales Manager - GetScale - Austin, Texas, United States

Inside Sales Representative - GetScale - Austin, Texas, United States

Inside Sales Representative - GetScale - Remote

Inside Sales Representative (Bilingual - English & Spanish) - GetScale - Remote

Inside Sales Representative (Bilingual - English & Spanish) - GetScale - Austin, Texas, United States

Office Manager - GetScale - Austin, Texas, United States

---

If you liked this post from Movements, why not share it? Forward it to a friend and we'll send you some sweet karma!