Amid Covid-19 pandemic, mopeds have a moment in car-loving US
Add BT as a preferred sourceDeeperDive is a beta AI feature. Refer to full articles for the facts.
New York
LONG associated with narrow, cobbled streets in Europe and congested Asian megacities, scooters are now becoming a common sight in car-loving America as commuters shun public transport because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
New Yorkers turned to the turquoise-blue rental mopeds of ride sharing company Revel in huge numbers in recent weeks, while scooter retailers are reporting a big uptick in sales.
Sales of motorcycles and electric two-wheelers - popular among the Big Apple's army of food delivery drivers - are also booming as residents plump for cheaper alternatives to four wheels.
Andrew Hadjiminas - president of a Vespa, Piaggio, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi retailer in Brooklyn - says the store has sold more than 200 vehicles in the last three months. "We are experiencing a positive sales growth over last year," he told AFP. "As people start to think about their commute and mobility during and after this pandemic, they are searching for ways to get around that are safe and fun," Mr Hadjiminas added.
At Unik Moto in Long Island City, demand has tripled compared to July 2019, with some weeks seeing about 20 scooters being sold, according to general manager Chris Benson.
Navigate Asia in
a new global order
Get the insights delivered to your inbox.
The shop, which has struggled to keep its inventory stocked, mainly sells models by the Taiwanese manufacturers Sanyang Motor company and Kymco.
"There was a big boom, up to now," Mr Benson told AFP.
Riding in America's most populated city, where car ownership is high and traffic can be bumper-to-bumper, comes with risks though. Revel, which has done much to popularise mopeds, paused its New York services last week following the deaths of two riders, including a 26-year-old CBS reporter, in separate crashes.
Revel, founded by two American entrepreneurs, launched a pilot programme in 2018 with 68 electric mopeds in Brooklyn. Before suspending operations on Tuesday, its New York fleet had grown to 3,000 vehicles. Its operations are continuing in Washington, Austin and Oakland and the service is launching in San Francisco in August. AFP
Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free.
Share with us your feedback on BT's products and services
