Electric scooters, used in major cities around the world as an urban mobility alternative, have been available to São Paulo residents on the capital's bike lanes since the beginning of this month. On August 11 and 12, two mobility startups presented their service options for the vehicles.
Learn more about both proposals below:
Scoo
SCOO, a mobility startup that operates electric scooters, is responsible for introducing this mode of transport to the country. The project was made possible thanks to a group of investors led by Seeds Capital, a venture capital firm focused on startups.
In its first months of operation in Brazil, SCOO plans to follow the same model used for the inauguration of new train and subway lines in the city: the public will have free access, and the scooters will be available every day of the week during pre-established hours.
“Several tests have already been conducted to verify the efficiency and safety of the electric scooter, so we already know how it works. Now we want to understand how São Paulo residents will adopt it, their daily usage profile and behavior, which bike lanes are best, average travel times, and so on,” Duarte anticipates.
Initially, 20 electric scooters were made available free of charge on the Avenida Paulista bike lane. By the end of August, they will expand to the Avenida Faria Lima bike lane and Ibirapuera Park. To use them, interested users must register on the SCOO website. Once approved, users receive a link to download the SCOO app, which is used to locate, unlock, and ride the scooter.
Legislation
With a 250W motor and speeds of up to 25 km/h, the electric scooters comply with the law that authorizes electric bicycles and scooters to ride on city bike lanes. Anyone caught riding outside these designated lanes is subject to a fine of R$ 574.62, issued by the São Paulo City Hall and the Traffic Engineering Company (CET).
Safety
The electric scooters have manufacturer safety certification, and their lithium-ion batteries have been tested by an electronic safety standards laboratory. Rider safety is also prioritized, with helmets provided free of charge by SCOO for all riders.
Technology
The electric scooter trial period will also serve to test safety and anti-theft technology, protecting the vehicles against theft and vandalism. “All of them have trackers and GPS, and usage time is billed on a pay-per-use basis,” Duarte explains.
General Rules for Use
- Minimum age of 18
- Use of a personal helmet or one provided by SCOO, as required by law
- Park only in locations designated by the company
- Ride only in bike lanes
- Respect traffic signals and pedestrians
- Always use the scooter's brake, which features ABS
- Maximum load: 120 kg
Electric scooter riders must not:
- Never ride on the street or on sidewalks;
- Carrying accessories that prevent the rider from steering with both hands;
- Drinking and riding;
- Carrying passengers;
- Using the scooter for racing, vehicle rallies, stunts, or tricks
- Operating the scooter on unpaved surfaces, or in any location that is prohibited, illegal, and/or a nuisance to others
Service:
- Pick-up location: Rua Hadock Lobo, 585
- Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Note: Pre-register on the website / Available after validation
- Website: http://www.scoo.mobi/cadastre-se.html
Ride
On August 12, the urban mobility startup pre-launched an intelligent alternative for short-distance travel in São Paulo: electric scooters. The event took place at Ibirapuera Park and Avenida Paulista, where beta testers were able to try RIDE scooters using the app.
While the service operates similarly to other transit apps, the scooters themselves offer key advantages: they are silent, emission-free, reach speeds of up to 20 km/h, and occupy less space than a car or a bicycle. They can be ridden on bike lanes, bike paths, and, when necessary, even on sidewalks. In addition to being an affordable option, it is a much more fun way to get around.
The newly launched service is accessed via a smartphone app using technology developed in Brazil. Users can locate the nearest scooter via GPS, unlock it, and start riding (pricing is calculated by usage time and is still being trialed). After use, customers can park them in bike racks, bike corrals, and other designated areas marked in the app. The goal is to mature the operation and, in coordination with the City Hall, evolve the system to allow free-floating parking.
Partners Marcelo Loureiro, Guilherme Freire, and Paula Nader founded the company after closely studying the adoption of this transit mode in other countries. They redesigned the equipment and technology to make operations viable in cities like São Paulo, which has very different characteristics from other cities around the world (such as Los Angeles, Paris, and Zurich) where similar systems are being implemented.
The scooters are tracked in real-time via GPS and collected every night by company staff for recharging—the energy consumption of each vehicle is equivalent to that of charging a personal computer. Developed specifically for sharing services in a city like São Paulo, RIDE scooters are exclusive: besides being more durable, they are equipped to make rides safer for everyone and meet the requirements of Brazilian legislation.
Via CicloVivo
This article was written by CicloVivo. The translation is powered by AI.
