Revel Transit

Revel was founded in 2018 by Frank Reig who serves as CEO and Paul Suhey who serves as COO. In July 2018 it started with a 10-month pilot in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens with 68 scooters,[1] eventually replacing them with 1,000 new scooters in the space of one week in May 2019.[2][3][4][5]

On August 16, 2019, Revel expanded to Washington, D.C. with a pilot program of 400 mopeds[6] compared with a total of 5,600 other bikes and scooters from other sharing companies.[7] Their first crash was reported the same weekend.[7][8]

As of June 2019, Revel has about 40 employees in New York, all full-time with insurance and benefits.[2] In Washington they employ a further 30 employees. The mopeds it uses are not owned by the company; rather, outside companies buy the mopeds and lease them to Revel.[9]

Revel's mopeds are manufactured by a Chinese company called NIU and sell for between $3000 and $5000 retail. They weigh about 200 lb (91 kg),[10] are powered by 2 lithium-ion batteries,[2] and have a range of 60 mi (97 km) with a top speed of 30 mph (48 km/h).[10][11] The batteries are replaced by Revel employees when they need to be recharged.[12] They are equipped with two helmets[7] which Revel says are cleaned every two or three days.[2] All Revel mopeds are registered with the DMV and have license plates.[7]

Drivers must be 21 or older, have a valid license, and pay a $5 fee for the verification.[13]The company provides a free half-hour rider instructor course[10] but has faced criticisms for its untrained riders and the small number of available lessons compared to the number of new riders.[14][15] The mopeds are driven and parked on the street, unlike other scooter or bike-sharing companies whose bikes take up space on the sidewalks.[11] Revel does not permit its mopeds for use on major highways and bridges.[12]

Revel Transit's first personal injury lawsuit came in July 2019 after a driver hit a biker, severely breaking the biker's ankle which required surgery. Police claim the biker pulled in front of the Revel driver who was turning left, causing a collision. The biker's lawyer, however, states that police did not take a statement from his client and it was the Revel driver who collided with the biker as he was attempting a left turn. The suit claims that Revel is liable for "failure to assure its users ... had sufficient knowledge and skill to operate the moped; failed to ascertain previous experience in operating the moped", noting that the lessons offered by Revel were backlogged.[3]

On August 9, 2019, a Revel rider was hit by a car from a rideshare company. Police say the rider ran a red light, while witnesses say the car was speeding as it passed through the intersection.[16]

The first crash involving a Revel bike in Washington, D.C. occurred on August 18, 2019, the same weekend as their debut. A driver hit a pothole and fell off his moped which landed on top of him, breaking his collarbone.[8] The company responded saying "Safety is our number one priority. This is why we verify riders have a safe driving history as part of our registration process, why we require all riders to use the helmets we provide on each Revel, and why we offer free lessons."[7]

On August 31, 2019, two boys on a Revel in Washington, D.C. moped opened fire on an Uber car, leaving the driver with injuries from the shattered glass.[17]

On July 18, 2020, CBS New York reporter Nina Kapur was killed while riding as a passenger on a moped in New York City. Less than two weeks later, on July 27, a 32-year-old man was also killed in New York while riding a moped. He was wearing a helmet, but Kapur was not wearing one. Following their deaths, Revel temporarily suspended operations in New York.[18]

• Official website