Latest news with #urbanTransport
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
How E-Scooters Conquered (Most of) Europe
By North Americans on summer jaunts to Europe will find cities offering tantalizing restaurants, stunning architecture and — more than likely — sidewalks jammed with fleets of shared electric scooters, awaiting their next rider. First appearing in 2018, rentable e-scooters from companies like Voi, Tier and Lime have become mainstays from Athens to Reykjavik, Iceland. The tiny devices have found a niche, particularly in places where many trips are short, tourists are abundant, and car use is cumbersome and expensive. Compared to an automobile, e-scooters offer a quick, green and space-efficient way to traverse many urban neighborhoods.
WIRED
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- WIRED
Infinite Machine's Olto Is Unlike Any Ebike You've Ever Seen
Jun 12, 2025 10:00 AM The startup wants to cut through the commuter ebike market with a $3,495 sit-down electric scooter that can still ride in city bike lanes. Photograph: Julian Chokkattu When I met with Infinite Machine to see its Cybertruck-esque electric scooter in 2023, it was outside a small garage by the waterfront in Red Hook, Brooklyn—the right kind of space for a scrappy, young startup. But on a recent visit, the team got a serious upgrade: a renovated and roomy warehouse in Long Island City, Queens, with high ceilings, a fresh coat of paint, more employees, proper machinery, and a showroom for passersby to ogle the P1 scooter—which the company finally began shipping this month. The P1 was always going to be a niche product. America doesn't have the scooter culture found in many other countries, and potential riders of the original $10,000 Vespa-inspired vehicle need a motorcycle license. That puts a limit on your growth as a burgeoning company. That's where the Olto comes in. Designed in a little over a year, the Olto is meant to be a mass-market electric bike that doesn't look like any ebike that came before. It can carry two passengers, can reverse, and has a footrest that can transform into pedals—all designed to ride on the bike lane. Start From Scratch Photograph: Julian Chokkattu Ebikes tend to look a lot like bikes. That also means that, like a normal bike, you'll probably need to haul it indoors somewhere secure for storage, or risk locking it up outside with a bike lock. Infinite Machine decided to come up with a fresh design from the ground up that puts the Olto somewhere between a sit-down scooter and an ebike. The mix of steel and aluminum results in an ebike with clean lines and curvy edges, something the company hopes will not draw so many Cybertruck parallels in this political climate. It comes in silver or black, is weatherproof, and is meant to be parked outside on the curb. You can pop out the battery from under the seat—there's a button to open it on the handlebar—but you don't have to store the UL-certified battery indoors. Just bring it in to charge when it needs the juice (it takes about 5.5 hours with the included charger or 3 hours with a fast charger). Otherwise, you can leave it in. What about bike thieves? The company has a suite of tools for theft prevention under the term Infinite Security. All Olto ebikes come with GPS and internet, so you can track yours via the companion app (iOS and Android will be available at launch). As a redundant measure, there's a secure spot to install an AirTag for peace of mind. If someone tries to tamper with the bike, an alarm will ring and you'll get a notification on your phone. The steering and motor also lock up, so it'd take considerable effort to move the 178-pound ebike. Much of this is powered by the secondary battery, which will keep running for 30 days if you've removed the primary battery from the Olto. If you're still wary, there's a spot to attach a U-lock on the kickstand. Photograph: Julian Chokkattu Photograph: Julian Chokkattu Speaking of accessories, Infinite Machine has an array of first-party accessories, from a phone mount to a rear rack and kid carrier, that you can configure with the Olto when placing your order. There are also some mounting points if you want to add third-party accessories, like the mounts for a bottle cage under the seat. Pedal or Throttle You can turn on the Olto with the power button, an NFC tag, or use the app. Like some modern electric cars, it can auto-unlock or auto-lock based on your proximity to the device (if you want). There's a little internal pocket on the stem with a USB-C port to charge a phone, and higher up top is a rectangular display that shows battery life, the mode the Olto is in, and the battery meter. On the right handlebar is the twist throttle, an R button to reverse, and a Boost throttle to get a little oomph from the motor if you need it. On the left is a button for turn signals, a button to open the seat to access the battery, and a very loud horn. You can also toggle the headlight settings here between high and low beams. The Olto comes with rear-view mirrors, but they're an optional install, and there are hydraulic disc brakes with internal wiring for a clean look. The seat is pretty comfy and can fit two people. There are pull-out footrests for the passenger and footrests for the driver. These latter footrests can be converted into pedals if you want to put some work into your ride rather than relying on the throttle (and maybe extend the range closer to the estimated 40 miles). Converting from footrest to pedals is somewhat confusing, but once you have it down pat, it takes seconds. Photograph: Julian Chokkattu The Olto has three modes: Class 2, Class 3, and Offroad. You'll have to choose the type based on local speed laws for bike lanes. In Class 2 mode, you can go up to 20 miles per hour and have full access to the throttle. In Class 3, you can only use the pedal-assist function, but the top speed jumps to 28 mph. In Offroad, you get the full power, and the Olto can ride as fast as 33 mph. You may see localized settings for these modes based on the laws of the region you're in. It's powered by a 2-kilowatt rear-wheel hub motor that's software-limited to 750 watts. My short ride around Long Island City was smooth and felt almost exactly like riding a typical ebike, except maybe a little more comfortable thanks to the wide seat and thick tires. (It handled a paved road with no issues.) Pedal-assist mode was less polished, but I was using a preproduction model, and the company said it's actively working out some kinks in this mode ahead of the launch. There's no resistance, and I had to pedal hard initially before it quickly ramped up speed, but all of this is expected to be tuned up, with plans to add resistance soon. The Risk There's always going to be concerns when you buy an expensive product from a new company—will Infinite Machine go the way of Dutch ebike brand VanMoof? The company has a sizable investor list, with most funds hailing from Andreessen Horowitz's American Dynamism Fund, along with angel investors like and Letitia Wright. Photograph: Julian Chokkattu Joseph and Eddie Cohen, the founders (and brothers), also tell me there will be a portal to purchase spare parts for the Olto, and the company will be partnering with a nationwide bike repair network for servicing in case issues arise. Still, the company has only just started shipping its first product, the P1, and it'll need to prove it can handle the scale it expects with the Olto ahead of its fall launch. The Olto is manufactured in China, though the company says it's planning to move some production to Malaysia. It did not disclose the manufacturer. 'We created this because we want to build a generational company that is making amazing products for decades and decades into the future, which is very ambitious,' Joseph Cohen says. 'To bring two vehicles to production with under $10 million is really unique … But we're humble because this is a challenging market—there's kind of a graveyard of companies—and we're trying to be smart in every way and learn from our mistakes and keep our risks low." We'll have to wait and see how it plays out, and if folks sharing the bike lanes will be intrigued or aggravated with the Olto, pedals or not. Preorders are available today—you can put down $100, but if you pay the full deposit, your order will be prioritized to ship when the Olto is ready this fall.
Gizmodo
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- Gizmodo
HiBoy Foldable Electric Scooter Is Practically a Steal Now as Best Buy Clears Out Top Deals
When it comes to city-living, there's a number of ways you can get around. You've got the subways, maybe call an Uber or a cab, or perhaps even get yourself a bike. There's always walking, but that can take forever. The best option that's often forgotten is staring right in front of you—an electric scooter. Cruise around town like six times as fast as you can walk with the HiBoy electric scooter. Right now, Best Buy has it for $200 off (-40%). That brings it down from its usual price of $500 to just $300 for a limited time. See at Best Buy Perfect for city life, you can commute to and from work on the HiBoy electric scooter. You can cruise along up to a max speed of 19 mph (I'd like to see you even try to walk that fast) and the scooter folds up so you can carry it easily when going inside or transferring onto a train or bus. Plus, that makes it easy to store in a small apartment. The scooter itself weights 31.7 pounds and has a maximum carrying capacity of 220 pounds. Not only are they just plain fun to ride, an electric scooter is a terrific way to help reduce your carbon footprint. On a single charge, you'll be able to reach an operating range of over 17 miles from your starting point. If you need to commute further than that, I'd probably recommend a car anyway.
CBC
29-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Bikeway construction on The Esplanade draws community controversy
Social Sharing Some downtown residents say they are opposed to a bikeway on The Esplanade but the city of Toronto says more than half of respondents it consulted four years ago said they supported the project. At a news conference Wednesday, resident Sharon Danley said the city must keep the needs of all residents in mind when it comes to its bike lane plans. The news conference was organized by the Downtown Concerned Citizens Organization, which says it represents 58,000 residents in three wards. "Bike lanes restrict road space," Danley said. "Bike lanes have turned streets into parking lots, with residents unable to shop, get their kids to events, and seriously impact emergency services and Wheel-Trans." Danley said the bike lanes are also having an impact on seniors and people with disabilities, forcing those who take the bus to walk further than before and making Wheels-Trans pickup "unduly risky." Vehicles cannot park close enough to the curb to extend their ramps over the sidewalk due to the bikeway and people in wheelchairs are affected, she said. "Bike lanes prioritize able-bodied young male cyclists while ignoring seniors and the disabled who can't cycle. Yet we are supposed to be an accessible city," Danley said. Bikeway being constructed as part of road work, city says In a news release on Wednesday, the city said it awarded a contract in March 2024 to build a bikeway on The Esplanade between east of Yonge Street and Market Street as part of water main, sewer and road work. Public consultation on the project took place from October 2019 to March 2021, the city said. The consultation introduced the project to the community and helped the city to identify needs and priorities, it added. A total of 74 per cent of respondents said they agree or strongly agree that the bikeway would meet the goals of the project, which were to improve safety for everyone, make walking, cycling and taking transit more attractive and maintain access to local and citywide destinations, according to the city. The city said crews are continuing to work on The Esplanade and Mill Street Connection Project. Once completed, a two-way cycle track on The Esplanade will run from Bayview to Lower Sherbourne Street, from Lower Sherbourne Street to Lower Jarvis, and west of George Street to west of Scott Street. The city says it will then upgrade the bikeways on The Esplanade, from west of George Street to Berkeley Street, to ensure they "more seamlessly integrate with the streetscape." In a March 10 construction notice, the city said there will be road and sidewalk restrictions within the work zone but: "Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times." The city said the contractor will notify residents of any temporary restrictions to their driveway access, and if a property has two entrances, one will be kept open at all times. Margaret Samuel, a resident of the ward and a lawyer, said The Esplanade between Yonge and Jarvis streets is a "vital" secondary artery in the city, but the "economic viability" of many nearby businesses, including St. Lawrence Market, is being affected by the bikeway construction. Samuel questioned whether the city can proceed with the bikeway given Ontario's Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, which came into effect in 2024, says cities need provincial government approval for new bike lanes that remove a lane of traffic. According to the city, projects with contracts awarded before the new rules kicked in can continue without restrictions. "Because this contract was awarded before the rules took effect, the City can move forward with the Esplanade-Mill Street Connection project as approved by Toronto City Council," the city said. The Esplanade connects with existing network: advocate Michael Longfield, executive director of Cycle Toronto, a charity that says it works to make Toronto a healthier cycling city, said he does not agree with the residents' assessment of the bikeway. "This is the kind of secondary road that in theory Bill 212 would be supporting," he said. "The Esplanade is technically classified as a collector. So again, if we can't put a bikeway on the collector, or on the Esplanade, which is beside a park that has lots of destinations, lots of apartments, lots of people who live there, I kind of question where can the city put bikeways?" he said. "When we're looking at bikes as part of a city's transportation network, you want to make sure that bike lanes are connecting to destinations," Longfield said, adding The Esplanade is an example of just that.
BreakingNews.ie
09-05-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Research shows alomost one in four e-scooter users have been involved in a collision
Research from the Road Safety Authority shows 24 per cent of e-scooter users have been involved in a collision. 32 per cent have been involved in a near miss, with all reported collisions involving men. Advertisement Five per cent of adults have used e-scooters in the last year, with 75 per cent under the age of 35. 65 per cent of users live in Dublin, with 97 per cent residing in urban areas. 13 per cent said they carry a child passenger, while 8 per cent said they carry an adult passenger. Dr John Cronin, Emergency Medicine Consultant at St Vincent's Hospital and board member of the Road Safety Authority said the research aligns with injuries being treated in emergency departments. 'E-scooters have quickly become a popular mode of transport, particularly in our cities — but with that popularity comes vulnerability. As an emergency medicine consultant, I've seen just how frequent and serious the injuries can be when things go wrong - from broken bones to serious head trauma. "E-scooter users have very little protection and very little room for error, especially when mixing with larger, faster vehicles. Everyone on the road — whether walking, cycling, driving, or using an e-scooter — has a role to play in keeping each other safe. "By staying alert and respectful, we can prevent lives from being tragically lost or forever altered by serious injury.'
