Scoot - the ZipCar of two wheels

[Slide Panda]

Great... more folks on two wheels with no clue. Seeing a zipcar badged car out on the road will already make me keep extra space.

Source:
http://techcrunch.com/2012/09/12/scoot-the-zipcar-for-scooters-grabs-550k-in-seed-funding/

"Scoot Networks, a system of smartphone-enabled, shared electric scooters calling itself the “Zipcar for Scooters,” has closed a seed round of $550,000, which will help the company move from private beta to launch. Investors in the round included Tim Young (About.me, Socialcast), Jerry Fiddler (Zygote Ventures, Wind River), Shane Johnson (Paintbrush Capital), Joanne Wilson (angel investor, Gotham Gal), Lisa Gansky (Mesh Labs, Ofoto), and Mark Jacobstein (Qualcomm, iSkoot).  Scoot had previously raised $225,000 from Greenstart and Athos Aramis.

The company was founded in 2011 by Michael Keating (now Scoot CEO) whose background is in transportation software, corporate strategy, sustainability, and design. He also has a masters in urban planning and an MBA, both from Harvard. Keating’s co-founders include Matt Ewing (CMO), who previously worked with MoveOn and environmental groups, and Dan Riegel (CTO), formerly a founder at EngeryHub.

“Transportation is one of the biggest urban challenges, and biggest expenses for city dwellers, mainly because our cities are packed full of expensive, polluting cars,” says Keating. “Alternative modes like biking or transit are great but most people still drive everywhere because those other modes still aren’t as fast or as convenient as driving.” Scoot, he says, aims to disrupt the status quo by being fast enough for the city (up to 30 MPH) but also much cheaper ($5/hour or less), much easier to park, and much greener (their electric motors get the equivalent of 850 MPG).

He also says that there are no direct competitors for Scoot, unless you count driving and mass transit. Zipcar is for occasional use like beach trips or IKEA runs, Keating explains, while Scoot could be for everyday trips like commuting and groceries.

Scoot currently offers a small fleet of scooters which are made available on demand, similar to how bicycle-sharing systems work. Still in private beta, there are just 10 scoots at four locations in SoMa (San Francisco), which have been used with 120 riders. But with today’s additional funding, the plan is to now expand the group of testers and launch widely in San Francisco, followed by other strategic cities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and elsewhere."

[Spidey]

Great... more folks on two wheels with no clue. Seeing a zipcar badged car out on the road will already make me keep extra space.

Come on -- it's not like San Francisco is already the 9th most accident-prone city in the entire US. 

[PhilB]

I'm in favor.  A clueless person on a scooter is less dangerous to others than a clueless person in a car.

PhilB

[sgollapalle]

their electric motors get the equivalent of 850 MPG

Well, they could ride it to the moon with just 281 gallons of their "fuel"

[Drjones]

" . . . He also says that there are no direct competitors for Scoot, unless you count driving and mass transit. . . ."    Might as well also discount walking, bicycles, motorcycles and scooters as non-competitors as well.  Sweet! Sign me up for their IPO! With logic like that they should be at $1000 per share in no time.

[justinrhenry]

Maybe they've gotten around this somehow, but it seems like it would be a problem. 

http://sfappeal.com/news/2012/03/sfs-new-scooter-sharing-service-might-run-into-wall-at-dmv.php

"Referring me to the DMV's page Motorcycles, Mopeds and Scooters Defined, Gonzalez confirmed after looking at the aforementioned coverage on Scoot Networks that the electric scooters used by the company "would require an M2 endorsement," that is, a license that would allow a rider to "operate any motorized bicycle or moped or any bicycle with an attached motor," per the DMV."

[Slide Panda]

So what are the scooter laws there?

Here (DC Metro area VA), presently, one can operate a 50cc or less scooter or moped with only a DOT helmet and eye protection. You do no need a licence let alone an M endorsement, nor insurance, registration/tags to operate a 50 given you're keeping it under 35. In VA if you can get it over 35 it magically becomes a motorcycle... But otherwise anyone can hop on a 50cc with a helmet and go for good or for bad.

Now this may well changes as maryland, who presently has similar laws on the books, is working on laws to make one have to register, insure and license up to operate a 50.

[zooom]

Now this may well changes as maryland, who presently has similar laws on the books, is working on laws to make one have to register, insure and license up to operate a 50.

AS OF OCTOBER 1

Maryland State Police Press Release
08/22/2012 08:10

NEW LAW ALERT ISSUED FOR MOTOR SCOOTER AND MOPED RIDERS

(PIKESVILLE, MD) -- Maryland State Police and local law enforcement are reminding the owners and riders of motor scooters and mopeds that a new law taking effect in less than two months will make significant changes in the use of their chosen form of transportation.

On October 1, 2012, new Maryland vehicle laws will take effect that require all motor scooters and mopeds to be titled and insured, while all operators and passengers must wear a helmet and eye protection. These new requirements are in addition to the existing law that requires all motor scooter and moped operators to possess a valid driver's license or a moped operator's permit.

All drivers and passengers of motor scooters and mopeds will be required to wear motorcycle helmets that meet safety standards set by the United States Department of Transportation. Drivers and passengers must also wear eye protection, unless the vehicle is equipped with a windscreen.

Motor scooter and moped owners will be required to insure their vehicles. They must obtain at least the minimum vehicle liability insurance and must carry proof of the insurance with them whenever they are operating the scooter or moped.

Motor scooters and mopeds will be required to be titled by the Motor Vehicle Administration. Owners will be able to obtain titling information through the MVA website at www.mva.maryland.gov beginning October 1st. When the title is obtained, the vehicle owner will be provided with a decal that must be displayed on the rear of the vehicle.

Maryland law defines a motor scooter as a non-pedal vehicle that has a seat for the operator; has two wheels, of which one is ten or more inches in diameter; has a step through chassis; has a motor with a rating of 2.7 brake horsepower or less, or a 50 cc engine or less; and is equipped with an automatic transmission.

A moped is defined as a bicycle that is designed to be operated by human power with the assistance of a motor; is equipped with pedals that can drive the rear wheel(s); has two or three wheels, one of which is more than 14 inches in diameter; has a motor with a rating of 1.5 brake horsepower or less and a 50 cc engine or less.

The drivers of motor scooters and mopeds are required to follow the same rules of the road as bicycles. Those rules include:

-Drivers must ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practical
and safe as possible, except when:
--Making a left turn;
--Operating on a one-way street;
--Passing a stopped or slower moving vehicle;
--Avoiding pedestrians and road hazards;
--The right lane is a right turn only lane;
--Operating in a lane too narrow for a bicycle or motor scooter and another vehicle to travel safely side by side.

-Drivers may ride side by side only if flow of traffic is unimpeded;
-Drivers must exercise due care when passing;
-Headsets covering both ears, or earplugs in both ears, are not permitted;
-Scooters or mopeds may not be operated on roadways with speed limits
greater than 50 mph;
-Scooters or mopeds may not be operated at more than 30 mph;
-Drivers may not operate on a roadway where there is a smooth paved bike lane or paved shoulder available, meaning they must use the bike lane or paved shoulder instead of the roadway;
-Drivers must obey the rules of the road applicable to all vehicles.

Troopers and local law enforcement across Maryland have received training regarding the new laws. Scooter and moped drivers who violate the new law can expect to be stopped and issued traffic citations or warnings, beginning October 1.

[MikeZ]

Those new laws are going to mess up a lot of people.  My office is in Rosedale (Just East of Baltimore City) and I see little scooters all the time around here.  No tags, helmets or eye protection. 
Wonder how well this will be enforced?

[Slide Panda]

Well the helmet at eye protection thing should/could have been enforced under the laws you guys have now. These October ones just lump shit, a lot of shit on. Things are similar in Arlandria. Lots of 50s buzzing around. Sometimes with helmets, some not, some bicycle helmets.

Some folks think the new MD laws are a money grab and they will generate $ off it if all the 50s running around need to register and plate. Some speculate it's a quiet move against the undocumented alien community. Little tin-foil hat for me, but sure does hold water as 50s are a source of independent motorized travel for folks who are trying to stay below gov radar.

[sgollapalle]

The next thing you know, you will need to get title and plates for your bicycle, and a walking permit 
But again, a walking permit to prove that you are 'able' to walk on a public sidewalks and cross motorways makes a lot of sense in the nyc area...

[MikeZ]

new MD laws are a money grab and they will generate $ off it if all the 50s running around need to register and plate.

This

[Spidey]

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/S-F-startup-offers-scooter-rentals-3895387.php

[Slide Panda]

Shared helmets.... nice 

"Two helmets - one large, one small - sit in a box on the back of the scooter, accessed with a key stored under the seat. "