Detroit mobility pilot provides essential workers with e-bicycles and e-scooters

A new pilot program has launched in the City of Detroit to connect essential workers to reliable, safe transportation to and from frontline jobs during COVID-19 pandemic recovery. The program, which matches participating employees with electric bikes and scooters and builds on the efforts the city has undertaken to expand access to affordable mobility for residents, is the result of a collaborative partnership led by Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation (OMI), NUMO (the New Urban Mobility alliance) and NextEnergy.

With funding and technical assistance provided by NUMO, OMI is leading the pilot in partnership with NextEnergy, which is serving as the local fiduciary. Micromobility service operators Spin and MoGo are providing an initial fleet of 125 e-bikes and 150 e-scooters, and General Motors donated Ariv e-bikes to be used for the pilot.

The e-scooters and e-bikes will be individually leased to hospital, grocery store, pharmacy, manufacturing and other Detroit-based employees living within six miles of their place of employment. OMI is collaborating directly with Detroit employers to identify individuals who might benefit from this program. Vehicle distribution began last week for the initial group of employees. Additional participating employers and employees will be added to the program until the fleet of vehicles has been utilized. The pilot is scheduled to run for 16 weeks. Participating employees will also receive information on the safe use of e-scooters and e-bikes, access to route-planning apps and equipment including helmets and locks.