It was the new favorite form of transportation for Brooklynites, who for just a few dollars and without a motorcycle license could get around much of the city. But the Revel shared electric scooter network came to a screeching halt at the end of July, following three fatal accidents in less than ten days.
It must be said that two of the three victims were not wearing helmets at the time of the facts, which prompted the company to temporarily stop its activities under pressure from Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York, who declared on July 28 that “Revel would no longer be welcome in New York until elected officials can be convinced that this service is safe”.
Revel wasted no time as users received an email on August 27 announcing the brand’s 3,000 electric scooters back on the road, with enhanced safety measures. Among them, a mandatory twenty-minute safety questionnaire has been set up before the first use. The questions relate in particular to the wearing of compulsory helmets, on authorized and prohibited roads, and speed limits. The Revel app will also systematically ask you for a photo of you wearing the helmet before you unlock your scooter.
Launched in the summer of 2018 in Brooklyn, Revel had gained popularity since the start of the pandemic, offering a simple and economical means of transport to replace the taxi or the subway. The company had also extended its offer to part of Manhattan in March and the Bronx in May. It is also present in Austin, Miami, Washington and Oakland.
