Revel launched a 10-month pilot in
July 2018 with 68 electric and emissionsfree
mopeds in Bushwick, Williamsburg
and Greenpoint to test their market
in New York. The app listened to and
learned from their users' feedback — and
many people were requesting that the
company expand to Queens.
“I think the app is easy enough to use
and explains the how to’s very well. It was
informative on how to use, how to park,
where you can go — all in a relatively
simple manner. My husband and I have
been using it to zip around to restaurants
in the area, and I once used it to go home
from Brooklyn,” Astoria resident Kim
Petrone said.
The new app is simple. After you
create an account, the app verifies your
driver’s license for a small fee. Once
you are approved, you are free to find a
moped and ride. Revel users can see on a
detailed map what mopeds are available
to them in their area (and beyond), and
they can either reserve a specific moped
up to 15 minutes in advance or start their
28 JULY 2 0 1 9
ride as soon as they come across an
available one. If the process is still a little
unclear to you, the app contains thorough
and easily accessible instructions and
graphics. It’s as if someone is with you,
walking you through it.
“Revel offers residents a fun and easy way
to get around. But more important, Revel
fills a critical transportation gap for western
Queens residents,” said Lauren Vriens,
Revel’s NYC general manager. “For example,
there is no subway link between Astoria and
Long Island City, leaving residents to walk,
take a taxi or rely on the bus. Revel aims to
offer these residents access to a convenient
and affordable one-seat ride for this sort
of trip, while also serving to complement
existing transit links.”
Coincidentally, I owned a moped in college
and did not bring it to Astoria three years
ago when I moved here. As soon as I heard
about Revel coming to western Queens, I
signed up almost instantly. I couldn’t wait to
be back on a scooter. As much as I loved my
Bintelli Sprint moped, the Revel scooters feel
more reliable and safe. They ride smooth,
have large wheels and a roomy seat that
can fit two people comfortably and include
helmets. I reserved a moped around Astoria
Park, went on a luxurious 20-minute ride
around the park and said goodbye to it near
30th Avenue.
Some locals even took to the Astoria
Reddit to share their thoughts after a
weekend of N/W trains not running.
“I finally did it. With no trains to
Queensboro Plaza this bad boy got me to
the N train in 14 minutes for $4.57 from
Ditmars. I dig it. Not gonna lie,” Reddit
user Beardbar said.
Compared to the MTA fare hikes and ride
sharing app expenses, Revel is affordable
and dependable. It costs $19 to get your
driver’s license background check, and each
ride has a one-time fee of $1 per person.
While riding, prices are calculated per
minute: it's 25 cents per minute while you're
in motion and 10 cents per minute to park
or pause — perhaps if you need to run into
a store or pull over for any reason. The first
minute of the ride is free so riders have time
to do a safety check and inspection of the
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