Pitt students have likely noticed an increased number of scooters in Oakland either parked on the sidewalk or zooming past them.
Turn, a company that makes and designs electronically charged vehicles, in partnership with the MovePGH project of the city on July 9th to equip the city with spin scooters. According to website, Spin is active at other universities across North America, including Ohio State University, the University of California San Diego, Duke University, and Texas State University.
Use of Spin app, students can see the location of scooters and charging stations – known as spin hubs – as well as the price of the scooter. To activate the scooter, the drivers need to use the app to scan the scooter’s QR code and make an online transaction using a credit card or Apple Pay.
To activate the scooters, drivers must pay $ 1 and then 39 cents for every additional minute. The scooters can then be controlled using two pedals and the handlebar. Returning the scooters to Spin Hubs – along Forbes Avenue at the corners of South Bouquet Street and Schenley Drive – is optional, but this gives riders $ 1 off their next ride.
A regulation The statement introduced on Tuesday by Mayor Bill Peduto’s administration says that the scooters must be ridden standing up by anyone aged 18 or over. Drivers must also stay below 25 mph and must stay on roads with a dedicated “bike lane” or on a road with a maximum speed of 25 mph. Pittsburgh City Council is expected to discuss this law next Wednesday.
According to the regulation, scooters must also be parked across the curb on a legal parking lot or next to a bike rack. Since the introduction of the scooter, some community members have complained about illegally parked scooters.
Students said they use the scooters for several reasons – practical or for pleasure. Emery Zhang, an undeclared sophomore student, said he recently used the scooters to return to his dormitory after a day of class.
“I usually use it to go back to my dorm, which is on the upper Irvis campus, and sometimes between classes because it’s faster than walking,” Zhang said.
Zhang said he thought the scooters were usable because of their “reasonable” price.
“I think they’re pretty reasonable considering how they’re renting out there, but they’re still trying to keep prices down,” said Zhang. “So the students are – it’s accessible to students and other people who want to drive it.”
Zhang said the scooters were an improvement over other vehicles like bicycles, although it took him 15 minutes to figure out how to use one.
“They have a motor and you can take them to places on the hill, usually because bicycles – they’re still human power – you have to ride them,” Zhang said. “It costs your energy, especially when you run to class and get tired and such.”
Zhang’s longest scooter ride was to and from Schenley Park, but he said they were better for short trips.
“These things cost a lot anyway, like doing them over long distances, so I think they’re better for short trips up and down campus,” Zhang said.
Ben Robinson, an undeclared sophomore student, also said the scooters are as opposed to being easy to use bird, a competitor who for its bad battery capacity.
“It doesn’t take much time to learn how to ride it,” said Robinson. “Bird had problems with that, but not this one.”
Jessica Weinthal, a senior psychology and drama scholar, said she used the scooters late at night to get back to her dormitory, crunch on time, and escape bad weather. She added that she thinks the scooters can be a little overpriced depending on the location of the destination.
“I feel like walking down the street shouldn’t cost $ 2.50 from one block to the other,” Weinthal said. “But maybe that is also, I don’t know, maybe that’s my personal opinion. I only take it when I am in a tight spot or when I really get somewhere or the weather really sucks. “
Weinthal also said the scooters are better than human-powered bikes, but she had to get used to the instant acceleration of the scooter before she could get a grip on it.
“These scooters have a really big pickup,” said Weinthal. “It goes from zero to probably seven or eight” [miles per hour] fast.”
Robinson said one advantage of the scooters is that they can be used for “anything”.
“I mean, really for everything,” said Robinson, “sometimes to class, sometimes it’s just fun to ride.”
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