Bronx residents test e-scooters
Test comes ahead of citywide pilot program set to launch in out boroughs
BY JASON COHEN
As the city prepares to
select an e-scooter partner,
Bronx residents had the opportunity
earlier this month
to test ride one from one of
the companies vying for the
pilot program.
The city’s Department
of Transportation recently
released a Request for Expressions
of Interest (RFEI)
for e-scooters. Between now
and March, the DOT will select
between three to fi ve escooter
companies, which
will be rolled out in all of
the boroughs outside of
Manhattan by the spring.
On Nov. 6, Superpedestrian
demonstrated its LINK
e-scooter safety systems
at Yankee Stadium, where
residents and community
leaders were able to ride
the next-generation vehicle
for the fi rst time. Superpedestrian
operates LINK in
multiple cities across the
U.S. and Europe. It recently
launched in Rome, Italy and
was just awarded a permit in
Seattle, where it will launch
this fall.
“We came out to the
Bronx today to show people
in the community that LINK
scooters offer neighborhoods
across the borough a safe,
low-cost and reliable way to
get around the city,” said Assaf
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, N 40 OVEMBER 20-26 BTR
Biderman, founder and
CEO of Superpedestrian,
LINK’s parent company. “For
communities that haven’t
always had the transportation
they need, especially as
we grapple with COVID-19,
LINK scooters can make a
big difference.”
Paul Mondesire, community
relations consultant for
Superpedestrian, spoke to
the Bronx Times about the
advantages of LINK. He explained
that while there are
numerous scooter companies,
LINK has the advantage
of Geofencing, which
prevents riding on certain
streets and allows parking
in designated areas.
While it can be paid for
on app, like Citi Bike, there
are no docking stations for
the scooters.
“NYC is trying to do it
better than other cities,”
Mondesire said.
If selected by NYC for the
pilot program, Mondesire estimates
there will be about
1,000 e-scooters in the outer
boroughs. He felt that with
the need to social distance
and with transportation deserts
like Co-op City and Pelham
Bay, e-scooters could
defi nitely help the Bronx.
“From my perspective,
what I think is most important
is it gives an alternative
transportation option
to the citizens of New York,”
he said.
Riders at the LINK demo courtesy of LINK