City Councilman Antonio Reynoso (D-Williamsburg-Bushwick) yesterday embraced Revel Transit, an electronic moped service that is offering an alternative travel solution for Brooklynites mainly in Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Bushwick — a more safe, convenient, and affordable riding experience whenever the L train shuts down.
Revel officially launched the first-ever shared e-moped service in New York outside of their headquarters at 12 Cypress Avenue, Bushwick, giving reporters there a test drive of their ambitious transit experience.
“Revel adds a missing piece to our city’s transit puzzle at a time when it couldn’t be more necessary,” Reynoso said. “This brand-new, safe, convenient, and affordable option will catch on quickly with residents looking for transit alternatives that don’t face delays and are emissions free.”
“These communities are most impacted by the impending L train shutdown, and they are currently looking for innovative solutions for transportation,” Paul Suhey, co-founder of Revel, said.
Revel’s e-mopeds are U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) certified vehicles and registered with the state Department of Motor Vehicles, which includes insurance, helmets, and free training for riders.
“I look forward to the service that this will provide transportation to Bushwick residents and will continue to fight for more environmentally friendly transportation alternatives in underserved communities,” Reynoso said.
“We are not trying to replace the subway, we are not trying to replace cars, we’re not trying to be the L train solution. We’re trying to be another option,” Frank Reig, co-founder of Revel said.
The mopeds are accessible through an app with instructions on how to locate the nearest vehicle and where to park. Each ride has a one-time $25 fee for the motor license check. The first 20 minutes will cost users $4 with an additional 25-cent per minute afterward. If users were to take a break from riding their e-mopeds, the rate is 5-cents per minute or roughly $3 per hour.
Although Revel’s founders Reig and Suhey want to expand their operation to all boroughs, these e-mopeds are exclusive in either Brooklyn or Queens.
“Of course, we would love to expand,” Reig said, “but we need to have this pilot happen, we to learn from this pilot, double-down on what’s working, fix what’s not working, and beyond anything make should New Yorkers want us to expand.”
Similar ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft are experiencing pushback from city council with a proposed plan to cap the number of drivers permitted to operate in the city.
However, Revel is confident that government will welcome their business model.
“The city council members that we have met, one in particular said, ‘why are you not launching in my district?'” Reig said.
Reig said the company also met with DOT officials and the policy team for Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams to make sure they aware of the business.
