A fleet of Veo Cosmo scooters stands outdoors Ozark Natural Foods at College Avenue and Lafayette Street on Thursday.
Photo: Todd Gill, Fayetteville Flyer
A pilot program to assist take a look at a brand new seated electrical scooter is underway in Fayetteville.
Vehicle-sharing firm Veo has begun rolling out its new Cosmo scooters round city as a part of a phased plan to interchange its Astro stand-up scooters.
The new seated scooter is just like the stand-up scooters which have operated in city and on the University of Arkansas campus for the final two years, however the brand new mannequin permits riders to sit down on a cushioned seat very like a gas-powered scooter or moped.
The thought is to make scooter using extra accessible by offering a snug journey for individuals who choose the added stability of a seat and decrease middle of gravity, or for individuals who easy are usually not in a position to stand and journey for lengthy intervals of time.
The first section of the roll-out contains deployment of fifty Cosmo scooters in Fayetteville, together with 15-20 on the University of Arkansas campus. Another 50 scooters are set to be launched in late April or early May, relying on demand.
“Safety is the most important factor when considering introducing a new mobility option like this,” stated Dane Eifling, town’s mobility coordinator. “The sit-down e-scooter seems much more stable for the rider, and it does not go any faster than the standing models.”
The seated scooters function a 500-watt motor with front-fork suspension, and embody 18-inch wheels, back and front LED lights and glow-in-the-dark paint for elevated visibility at evening. The scooters have a most velocity of 15 miles per hour and a variety of as much as 55 miles per cost, in keeping with Veo.
Last yr, Veo reported greater than 200,000 rides on its scooters in Fayetteville.
Both varieties of scooters value $1 to unlock and 25 cents per minute to journey. Discounted rides can be found for low-income residents.