【2021 Archives】

Even though electric scooters021 Archivestypically seen zooming around cities, the two-wheeled devices aren't always accessible to everyone.

E-scooter accessibility goes beyond cost to ride and availability in certain neighborhoods. For Uber's Jump shared bikes and scooters, it means offering adaptive devices with more stability and reconfigured fixtures as well as controls as a way to give riders with disabilities more options.

Starting Wednesday, a pilot program with four new Jump vehicles will launch in San Francisco. Two new models are available to rent through San Francisco Bike Rentals. The scooters won't be rentable through the Uber app right away, but those who want to ride can pick up and drop off from two different bike shop locations in San Francisco's Hayes Valley and Fisherman's Wharf neighborhoods. Since the rentals are outside the app, riders can pay for the rides with debit or credit cards or cash at the bike shops. The adaptive rentals are $.33 per minute.

The two new scooters are the Rassiné and Drive ZooMe scooters. Both are equipped with three wheels instead of two with an emphasis on stability. The ZooMe scooters have a seat and large front basket. Both let you get started without kicking off the ground, instead using a switch on the handlebar. A red handbrake is on the left handlebar.

Even though the scooters are available through Jump, there won't be any branding for Uber or Jump on the four devices.

It's only four of these scooters at two locations for now, and you have to call in or book the vehicles online or in person. This isn't a long-term solution to offering more accessible rides, but it's definitely a start.