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Common Tread

Ride report: Revel electric scooters blur the urban transportation lines

Dec 09, 2019

After the EICMA binge of new-bike launches, the predictable hangover of slow news is here. So I had to go make my own fun.

In search of something new to ride, I found one of the slowest electric vehicles on the road, some very slick tech, and a proposed solution to the gridlock plaguing America’s cities. No steak dinners or posh hotels were provided.

In a way, this piece is a sequel. Last year, I tried a pilot program for dockless electric scooters in our nation’s fair capital. My conclusion back then? “I can’t speak for D.C. residents, but as a visitor, the scooters were way better than I thought they’d be.” Zipping around on the kick scooters was cheap, amusing, and not too sketchy, as long as I rode defensively.

Electric scooters
Since last year, the number of scooters like these in D.C. has risen dramatically, though they aren't the subject of this article. RevZilla photo.

If you’ve been to a major metro area since that article ran, you’ve probably seen similar scooters everywhere. I’m not sure that they’ve revolutionized urban transportation, but they are definitely A Thing. 

Never mind all that. Tech startups have moved on to bigger Things. A new class of shared EV, the electric moped, is spreading quickly. Personally, I think electric moped riders will soon outnumber electric motorcyclists, if they don’t already.

Revel electric moped
Should riding be as easy as downloading and going? RevZilla photo.

But first, a word about taxonomy. A lot of people call these vehicles mopeds. Motor? Check. Pedals? Nope. Not a moped, in my opinion. NIU, Revel’s fleet supplier, even calls their products scooters. But the Bird/Lime/Kick/etc. vehicles are already “electric scooters,” so here we are. Apparently Revels are mopeds and I’m just wrong. I’ll refer to them as Revels or mopeds from here out, but I do so under protest.

Here’s the deal: through an app, Revel connects users with plated, road-going EVs capable of 30 mph, roughly equivalent to a 50 cc gas-powered scooter. A driver’s license is required to operate one, but a motorcycle license is not. Revels are not ambiguous, kicky things that sorta work on sidewalks and bike lanes. You’re in regular traffic, and all rules of the road apply. Ride to your destination, pay for your trip, and park the moped within a designated zone when you’re done.

Revel scooter
Plate says it's a "motor driven cycle." Clear as mud. RevZilla photo.

Revel is not the first to operate a network of shared electric two-wheelers. Scoot, based in San Francisco, boasts a total fleet mileage of nearly seven million. Revel represents the cutting edge of their industry, with operations in New York City, Austin, and Washington, D.C. How could I not try out their service? But first, I needed to prepare for my trip.

How do you rent a Revel?

A Revel rider must be 21, hold a valid driver’s license, and pass a background check before riding. The background check costs $19, and you cannot ride without it. High-risk drivers may be rejected, and that’s the end of their shared scooting career. I was approved within five minutes. Then, I watched Revel’s instructional video. Revel does have free lessons seven days a week in each market where they operate where they teach people to ride.

Pretty simple for those of us who already ride. On the way out the door, I grabbed some gear I thought would come in handy: a RAM mount, insulated riding gloves, a modular helmet, a simple riding jacket, and a backpack with a helmet hook.

My journey started in D.C.’s Navy Yard, at the south end of the city. After parking, I fired up the app and found three mopeds within a couple blocks. (Revel has something like 400 on the street during this pilot program.) 

Revel moped cargo
I think a Revel would be a nice little grocery getter. RevZilla photo.

I picked the option with the highest battery level, and Revel plotted walking directions to its location. Another tap reserved the moped for 15 minutes, preventing other riders from renting it out from under me. Thoughtful feature. A “find me” function prompts your reserved vehicle to beep a few times and flash its lights. Revel could not make finding a moped any easier.

Revel electric moped
Two helmets are included, and they are different sizes. Hopefully one fits you. I take that back. Hopefully you brought a helmet of your own. RevZilla photo.

Aside from the "100% ELECTRIC" stickers and Revel branding, it… looked like a nice gas scooter. I was a little jealous of the top box, which was larger than any I’ve ever had on a personal bike. The two loaner helmets inside did not tempt me. Overall, the Revel looked clean, modern, and simple. I would go so far as to say its appearance did not terrify me.

Revel moped
The right control pod will look familiar to most motorcyclists. Its functions are roughly the same, too. RevZilla photo.

Revel says you should conduct a pre-check; nothing was obviously amiss except the absent phone holder. Good thing I brought the RAM mount! The brakes felt firm, tire pressure was good (brought a gauge just to check that), and aside from the dirt, it looked nearly new. Following the directions from the video, I started the moped and pinned the throttle to see what this thing could do. The front wheel picked right up and I unintentionally wheelied across the street!

Oh, come on. In reality, the moped smoothly and predictably accelerated in complete silence. I didn't even get a Jetsons-car whirr. Walking is louder.

Revel electric moped
The simple dash shows range, speed, and the status of the two onboard batteries. Mine was inexplicably stuck in Science Units, not Freedom Units. RevZilla photo.

A wrong turn but an easy ride

Winding my way around the south end of the city, I turned onto a one-way street... that eventually merges to I-695. Oops. Revel expressly forbids riders from taking their mopeds on highways. The scooter sure wasn't doing anything to stop me, though. I escaped down an alley and headed back to the city streets, where the Revel belonged.

One big difference from motorcycles was signaling turns, oddly enough. While the auto-cancelling switch was very normal, the sound was an audible chime instead of a click, like you might hear at a crosswalk. And because pedestrians could reasonably hear the turn signal, this feature probably helps the small and otherwise silent mopeds get noticed. (I think it also helps new riders remember to turn off their signals if the auto-off doesn't catch it.) Even though I was the slowest thing on the road, I was beginning to, as Spurgeon says, enjoy the ride.

In fact, the Revel’s range, speed, and ease of use felt just right for D.C. If I lived down there, I wouldn’t own a scooter for as long as their service was around. On a full charge, you’ve got about 60 miles of range and a max speed of 30 mph. That’s all you need to ride in the city, really. No maintenance, no parking worries, just riding. Insurance, however, is not so simple. Revel provides third-party liability coverage for property damage ($50,000) and bodily injury ($100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident). “Much like other rental services,” Revel states, “...we do not provide health insurance. If you need medical attention, the insurance that applies is your personal health insurance.” Keep that in mind before heading out.

Revel electric scooter
You get a little glove box, a USB charger, and a grocery hook, shown here in its stowed position. RevZilla photo.

Those very serious considerations were somewhat balanced by the intuitive, jaunty ride. Twist to go, pull both levers to stop, put your feet down when you aren’t moving. Easy! Sure, the suspension’s kinda harsh, the 12-inch wheels don’t love bumps, hard parts scrape if you juke hard to the left, and your Revel will not respond well to burnout attempts. Big deal. How can I complain when my trip worked out to less than two bucks a mile? It’s a dollar to unlock, $0.25 per minute riding, and $0.10 per minute while paused or parked. Even by my known cheapskate standards, that is an inexpensive rental!

I hopped around town for the rest of the afternoon, stopping for coffee, food, or photo ops when I felt like it. I could stash the helmet on the backpack's hook until it was needed again. It was so nice to just walk away from the moped when I stopped. Revel's agreement with the city allows you to park in any approved metered spot for free, so as long as I parked correctly and didn't break anything, that unit became Revel's problem as soon as I ended the ride.

Just do yourself a favor and bring your own helmet. The included HCI 15s, which retail for around $75 and carry a DOT rating, are cleaned several times a week. Disposable hair nets should be included in the top box, if that makes you feel any better. I think even a basic street helmet would be safer and more sanitary.  Be warned: if you don’t bring your own, you must wear one from the box. It's the law. I also recommend bringing gloves and closed-toe shoes that cover your ankles.

Recommendations from a rider

The carefree nature of Revel’s mopeds is both its greatest attribute and its most glaring flaw. I think the machines themselves are terrific for what they are. Weather permitting, I would take a Revel over an Uber or Lyft, a taxi, a bus, or even D.C.’s fine subway. Revel worked flawlessly for me, and I basically enjoyed a warm November day joyriding around for very short coin. That's cool.

Revel scooter passenger
Passenger footpegs deploy with a click. Vespa uses a similar setup on scooters like the GTS 300. RevZilla photo.

On the other hand, I already know how to ride. Imagine a user, who had never ridden a scooter before, hopping on a 215-pound Revel for the first time. How prepared are they for riding on the street in city traffic? Did they actually watch the optional instructional video, or did they skip it? Are they wearing their helmet like they're supposed to? Could they possibly recognize the risks of riding? And, to complicate the situation, is a passenger coming along for this maiden voyage? Riding is fun, but it should be taken seriously.

The transportation departments of three major cities allow Revel, and I respect that. I just wonder if Revel makes it too easy to ride. Common Tread's spilled a lot of digital ink on the barriers to new ridership, and I agree that they are significant. Does that mean we should reduce those barriers so that a new rider only needs a driver's license, an app, and a loaner helmet to ride on the street? And who am I to say, when that's all I started out with, minus the app?

Revel electric scooter
Back the scooter in with the rear tire against the curb, leaving space for parked cars to get out. RevZilla photo.

Areas for improvement

I would feel a lot better about Revel's operation with a few simple changes. First, do more to keep riders away from restricted zones and roads. I almost ended up on 695 by accident, but later in the day, I watched an enormous man with an unbuckled helmet intentionally merge onto that same highway. I know those mopeds have GPS equipment onboard. Put it to work!

Second, I think riders should be required to complete a number of rides without incident before they can carry passengers. Riding with a passenger is a whole different experience, and it also doubles the stakes for the rider. At least require a slightly experienced rider at the controls. I'd prefer if passengers were banned altogether. 

Revel electric scooter
Parked and ready for the next rider. I'd use Revel again. Hey, I already paid my $19, right? RevZilla photo.

Finally, force users to watch the whole instructional video before they can ride, and make that video more comprehensive. As in, you cannot start your first ride until the app confirms that you watched the entire thing. Maybe have a checkbox or something at the end. "YES, I watched the instructional video and feel ready to ride." Revel needs to make the most of opportunities to instruct riders before they set off if they want to have a successful service.

D.C. wants to reduce congestion and get people thinking outside the 4,000-pound steel box. “This demonstration period will allow the District to evaluate how mopeds will fit in our transportation network,” DDOT Director Jeff Marootian stated in a news release. “This is another opportunity for us to reduce dependence on single-occupancy vehicles and expand the sustainable transportation options we offer to residents and visitors.”

Will the moped pilot program stick around? I reached out to DDOT for additional comment to see what their performance metrics were for this program, but they did not respond in time for this post. From what I've read, experienced, and seen, I think Revel will remain in the capital for 2020. I spotted lots of other Revelers while I was on my test ride. (They won't wave, don't bother.) You know, moped-sharing services might just be an answer for some folks. Like I said, I'd use Revel all the time if I didn't have a bike of my own. And for those who are unsure? Nobody's twisting your arm. You don't have to ride if you don't want to.