Lyft's New Electric Scooters Have Longer Battery Life And Pink Wheels
Lyft is deploying a new electric scooter model that is built for sharing. The new scooters have arrived in Denver, bringing with them hot pink wheels and a high-contrast Lyft logo. Riders will enjoy a number of improvements to the design, including a wider base, improved durability, and longer-lasting batteries. This is the first time Lyft scooters have featured pink wheels, making them easier to spot.
Lyft, as with a number of other companies, has deployed electric scooters in multiple big cities as an on-demand alternative to cars and buses. Riders can find and rent one of these scooters using the company's mobile app, providing them with a faster-than-walking way to go a couple blocks at a fairly inexpensive rate.
The company rolled out a new scooter model in Denver on Friday, revealing that they have a 20-percent wider base for more foot room, as well as thicker pink wheels and batteries that last longer. There's an electric brake that engages with a single wheel, as well as increased durability, all of which make sense for a scooter that'll be shared many times throughout the day.
Electric scooters are popular with consumers for obvious reasons — in addition to the 'fun' factor, they're cheap and easily acquired. It's easier to navigate through certain areas on something small like a scooter compared to waiting on a bus or in a car, and the customer can simply leave the scooter when they're finished. The company that owns the scooters is responsible for charging and maintenance.
Despite that, the introduction of electric scooters as a transportation option in big cities hasn't been entirely smooth. Some cities have complained about the presence of scooters on sidewalks, and there have been a number of complaints about where riders choose to operate the scooters. As well, a number of individuals have been seriously injured while riding scooters, causing some critics to raise questions over whether they're ultimately in the public's best interest.