TAMPA, Fla. — Uber has provided another way for people to get around town, this time on two wheels.
JUMP electric scooters are available in Tampa through the Uber app and give riders the ability to both reserve and walk up and ride a scooter.
Once riders discover their scooter of choice, they can scan the QR code through the Uber app to unlock it.
All the rider has to do is kick off the ground three times to get the scooter going, pressing the throttle to boost anywhere up to 15 mph. The brake, located on the left handlebar, can be used to slow down, or riders can use the rear brake to come to a more immediate stop.
The app also shows riders how charged the scooter is and how far it can be ridden before it dies and needs to be recharged again.
In the Uber app, riders are advised to use a helmet, follow traffic laws and park near a bike rack in the parking zone. The app also offers discounted prices through helmet companies for riders who do not own a helmet.
Click here for more safety tips about riding on the JUMP electric scooters.
The scooters are available in 13 U.S. cities and in three different cities around the world, including Madrid, Paris, and Wellington. Click here to see a full list of available locations.
Tampa now has four different motorized scooters to cruise around downtown. Besides Jump, there are Bird, Lime and Spin. They're part of a year-long pilot program to offer low-cost transportation and reduce traffic.
The program has had a few hiccups. It had a delayed start, and some riders have not done a good job of putting the e-scooters back where they belong.
Nashville City Council is considering banning them or creating more restrictions after a 26-year-old man was hit by a car while riding one back in May. There was also a similar incident in Downtown Tampa. Police say somehow a rider veered into the path of a semi truck, and he later died.
10News asked Tampa Mayor Jane Castor if she thinks changes are needed.
“With any new program, there is a learning curve or a timeframe, and we’re going through that right now in the city of Tampa,” Castor said.
The mayor says she thinks this is something that can be safely integrated into the community. A big part of making the e-scooter program a success is knowing the rules before you ride. You can see those and maps of where you can find the scooter corrals below.
Want to view the corral locations?
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