Scooters on campus replaced with new models
Spin scooters on campus have recently undergone a model replacement and lowering of numbers.
Spin delivered e-scooters to campus last year that were recently removed and replaced this semester with a new price per use scheme, designed specifically with input from USC Aiken students.
Although 1,000 old models have been removed, only 650 new models have been delivered.
The replacement of older models was not based upon lack of use, but because the supply of newer models is limited, said Stanley Okoro, a local Spin representative.
The remaining additional 350 units would be delivered “soon and they are stronger and better than the old ones.” He also said there has been a decline in ridership this semester and he blames reduced ridership on rainy weather.
Spin is a 3-year-old startup owned by Ford Motor Company that rents bicycles and scooters countrywide. They use an operating platform established by Zagzster ten years ago for bike-sharing to create a newer style of free-range vehicle sharing system unlike many existing business models in the US.
The Spin App locates the nearest machine for you. There is no prohibition against taking scooters to nearby locations like Walmart, downtown Aiken or riding them home and parking safely nearby. They may be used for a one-way trip or used to get there and back again.
Students complained about fees charged last year. Spin’s new program offers a flat rate of twenty-nine cents per minute and for all new users who install the Spin App and try out a scooter, they offer a free $5 ride.
To use the scooter, download the Spin app, register with your campus email address, scan a scooter’s bar code and your license and provide payment information.
When placing these machines on college campuses, Spin assumed that the students will have the capacity for cautious mindful behavior and know their own limitations, Okoro clarified.
The scooters are not cost-free but may have a reduced environmental impact than driving around in cars.
