Revel moped (Wikimedia Commons via Arun D CC by 2.0)
July 28, 2020 By Allie Griffin
The moped-sharing company Revel has shut down its service in New York City today after a second fatal crash occurred in ten days.
Revel announced it would shut down service in the city until further notice just hours after a 32-year-old man died by crashing a Revel scooter into a lamppost in Rego Park early this morning.
“We’re reviewing and strengthening our rider accountability and safety measures and communicating with city officials, and we look forward to serving you again in the near future,” the company posted on Twitter.
New York riders – starting today, NYC service will be shut down until further notice. We’re reviewing and strengthening our rider accountability and safety measures and communicating with city officials, and we look forward to serving you again in the near future.
— Revel (@_GoRevel) July 28, 2020
The Brooklyn man’s death follows the death of local New York City reporter Nina Kapur on July 18.
Kapur was a passenger on a Revel scooter driven by a 26-year-old man when she was killed. The driver reportedly swerved, which caused both people to be thrown from the moped, police said.
Kapur, 26, was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. She is believed to be the first Revel rider to die in New York City.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city talked with the CEO of Revel this morning about the uptick in fatal crashes.
“We’ve had two fatalities in [about] a week,” he said at a morning press briefing. “This is an unacceptable state of affairs.”
The city made clear to Revel that the situation is unsatisfactory and unacceptable, he said.
“We will not allow them to reopen unless we are convinced it can be done safely,” de Blasio said.
The city will work with the rideshare company to improve its safety, he added.
Revel first launched in three Brooklyn neighborhoods in 2018 and expanded throughout Brooklyn and Queens last year. In March, the company brought its scooters to Manhattan.
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4 Comments
Jeez, who coulda seen this coming??
Every night I’ve watched those scooters being driven recklessly by large groups. They’re on sidewalks, they play chicken, they race, they skid them out, etc. Often I see groups stop in he park to get drunk and high and then go back to the 30 mph horseplay. I’m surprised more people, including pedestrians, haven’t been hurt.
Ask yourself how did they get certified to operate on the streets of NYC? How much money did they con tribute to Mayor DiBlasio’s campaign to get approval?How much did Revel contribute to Jimmy Van Bramer’s war chest? Who lobbied for Revel and which politicos did they wine, dine and line their pockets with green wads of cash? Sunnyside,LIC was one of the first nabes where Revel started operating – I would start the investigation here,….. Over a year ago Found 3 new revel mopeds one day in front of my home when they began operation. I thought Bad business, bad idea, a danger to the general public.
Good riddance. When I see one of their bikes on it’s side, busted and vandalized, an angel gets its wings.