Brooklyn-Based Revel Unleashes 1K Mopeds On Austin Streets

AUSTIN, TX — As they had promised earlier this week, officials at shared electric vehicle company Revel unleashed a 1,000-moped fleet onto Austin streets on Friday.

Company officials staged a morning press conference outside City Hall in making the launch of the electric, street-legal mopeds official. The Revels will be available to rent for licensed drivers over the age of 21 in the Austin area who pass an initial safe driving record background check, officials said.

“Austin is experiencing a period of incredible business and population growth and with that comes the need for new transportation options,” said Frank Reig, CEO and co-founder of Revel. “We share the city’s commitment to innovation and rider safety and are excited to offer Austinites an easy, affordable and fun way to move throughout their city.”

Revel launched its Austin service during an event at City Hall with Jason JonMichael, Assistant Director of Smart Mobility.

Related story: 1,000 Mopeds To Hit Austin Streets

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Revel was formed last year with a small pilot in the borough, officials said in a press advisory. Revel later expanded to 1,000 mopeds in Brooklyn and Queens, before launching 400 mopeds in Washington, D.C. Austin is now the third market in which Revel operates, company officials noted. Like every other motor vehicle on the road in Austin, Revels are registered with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

As part of its commitment to Austin, Revel officials said the expansion will create local jobs with benefits. Revel will also operate its Access program in Austin, enabling eligible riders to participate in locally or federally administered assistance programs to secure a 40 percent discount on riding and a $25 riding credit, officials said.

"Since I began serving on the Texas House Transportation Committee, it has been my focus to find solutions to ease traffic congestion and get rid of burdensome regulations that only further congestion,” Texas State Rep. Matt Krause said in a prepared statement. “So when my office got the opportunity to file legislation that would make it easier for Texans to operate mopeds and cut out unnecessary regulations, I was eager to get something to the governor's desk so we can keep Texans moving."

Revel officials said the company takes extensive measures to ensure its riders are safe and responsible on the road. Prior to riding, users must upload their drivers’ licenses, allowing Revel to confirm that they are 21 or older and do not have a history of reckless driving. Users must also upload a selfie so Revel can ensure that the drivers’ license uploaded is theirs. To date, approximately one out of every 12 applicants does not make it past this screening.

Once users are approved, they can find, reserve and unlock the Revel of their choice via the Revel mobile app. Each Revel comes with two U.S. Department of Transportation-certified helmets and can carry up to two riders. Revels are limited to local streets and are capped at a speed of 30 miles per hour. Rides cost $1 per person to start, followed by $0.25 per minute to ride and $0.10 per minute while parked.

Revel offers free driving lessons seven days a week for those interested in riding or safety instruction. Every Austin rider is covered by third-party liability insurance, and all riders are required to abide by all local traffic and parking laws.

Those interested in "Reveling" can download the app at gorevel.com/app.

About Revel

Revel is a shared electric vehicle company that helps people who live and work in cities get where they need to go in a safe, reliable, and convenient way. Qualified riders use our app to unlock and ride a licensed, regulated, and insured electric moped parked in our service area. For our riders, we provide two helmets on each Revel and offer free riding lessons via our app or in-person so that they can ride as safely as possible. For cities, Revels are easy to deploy as they fit seamlessly into current regulatory, transportation, and parking systems. Revel was founded in March 2018 by Frank Reig and Paul Suhey with a small pilot program in Brooklyn, New York. Revels are now available throughout much of Brooklyn and Queens, Washington, DC, and are coming to other cities soon. Revel also can be found at GoRevel.com and on Twitter @_GoRevel.