College Park, MD—August 26, 2019—The City of College Park, University of Maryland Department of Transportation Services (DOTS) and Town of University Park has partnered with the mobility share company VeoRide to pilot a year-long bike and electric scooter (e-scooter) program. VeoRide has pioneered the mobility industry’s most durable, rider safe and eco-friendly e-scooter on the market.
“We’re excited about this new partnership that expands our mobility options and allows our university community to travel on and around campus without a car. VeoRide’s parking technology and commitment to safety allows us to deliver a fleet and parking system that works for our community. ” says DOTS executive director David Allen.
Beginning Wednesday, August 28, VeoRide will gradually introduce a fleet of 150 electric assist bikes (e-bikes), 70 pedal bikes and 70 e-scooters to 24 different locations on campus and around the City of College Park and Town of University Park. Bikes and e-scooters will be available from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
HOW TO RIDE
To rent a bike or e-scooter, customers must download the free VeoRide app on their mobile device and locate their preferred vehicle. After initiating Bluetooth pairing, they must scan the QR code on the vehicle or enter the vehicle’s ID to unlock it and ride. At the end of the trip, bicycles must be parked at any public bike rack, and e-scooters must be parked in designated areas identified in the app. The rider pushes the button on the lock to end the trip.
E-bikes and e-scooters cost $1.00 to unlock and 15 cents per minute of use. Pedal bicycles cost $1.00 to unlock and 5 cents per minute of use.
SAFETY FIRST
Bikes and scooters should generally be used on roads; however, sidewalks can be used when necessary. Remember to always yield to pedestrians. Users should ride in low traffic areas and bike lanes, and exercise caution if it is necessary to cross or briefly travel on a busy road. First-time users are required to review safety protocol in the VeoRide app before activating their vehicle. Riders should always wear a helmet.
VeoRide supports user safety through community engagement and vehicle maintenance checks. Their employees perform regular multi-point inspections and maintenance of each vehicle so riders may be confident they can safely travel to their next destination. Safety demos staffed by VeoRide representatives will take place on campus from late August through October. These events will include helmet giveaways and opportunities to test drive the e-scooters and bikes in a controlled environment.
"Since e-scooters are a new mobility technology unlike anything we've seen at the university, we believe it's critical for riders to test drive these vehicles before using them on the road, " says DOTS assistant director for sustainability, Anna McLaughlin. "We encourage everyone to attend one of our safety demos with VeoRide staff over the next several weeks."
ABOUT THE CITY OF COLLEGE PARK
Situated just minutes from the nation’s capital, the City of College Park is home to the University of Maryland, the world’s oldest continuously operating airport and a wide variety of shops, restaurants, attractions and recreational opportunities. The City is comprised of over 32,000 residents that reside in diverse settings from historic neighborhoods to luxury student housing complexes. For more information, please visit www.collegeparkmd.gov.
ABOUT UNIVERSITY PARK
University Park is a beautiful, tree-lined community of 915 single family homes and 2300 residents in northern Prince George's County, adjacent to the University of Maryland. Having its own municipal government, University Park provides a traditional "small town" atmosphere with urban convenience and amenities. The Town values community involvement, fiscal sustainability, and environmental stewardship. For more information, please visit www.upmd.org.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
The University of Maryland Department of Transportation Services (DOTS) is the primary agency for administering parking and transit management programs on the College Park campus. A self-supported unit under the staff supervision of the Vice President for Administration and Finance, DOTS provides service to the campus community through planning, education and enforcement. DOTS honors the mission and values of the University of Maryland by providing safe, cost-effective and innovative services that anticipate the transportation needs of our campus community as they relate to accessing institutionally supported facilities and destinations. For more information, please visit transportation.umd.edu.
ABOUT VEORIDE
VeoRide, headquartered in Chicago, is one of the micromobility industry’s fastest growing and most innovative companies. With its unique swappable-battery technology, VeoRide designs and manufactures e-scooters that are built for the rigors of shared use, last longer and are safer to charge than the consumer-grade models on the market. The company has dozens of cities nationwide currently using its mobility share programs and is adding additional municipalities every month. For more information, please visit http://www.veoride.com
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Contacts:
Ryna Quinones, The City of College Park, 240-487-3508, rquinones@collegeparkmd.gov
Andrea Marcavitch, University Park, (301) 927-4262, amarcavitch@upmd.org
Cara Fleck Plewinski, University of Maryland DOTS, 301-405-8523, fleckc@umd.edu