Vancouver, Wash., Scooter Companies Surge in Popularity

(TNS) — Two new downtown Vancouver electrical scooter companies are offering a brand new strategy to safely discover Vancouver in the course of the pandemic.

Electrical-scooter rental firm and vendor Zoot Scoot, close to Esther Quick Park, and one other vendor, Rev Rides, close to Briz Mortgage & Guitar on Washington Road, are each discovering success with a lot of gross sales this summer season.

Jason Adams and his spouse, Kristie Means, opened Zoot Scoot in early June at 812 Columbia St. Earlier than opening, he was frightened about beginning a brand new enterprise amid the pandemic. However he realized it was a possibility to carry inexpensive leisure to downtown in a time when many sources of leisure have been shut down.

“At first, I used to be pondering of placing it on maintain due to COVID-19,” Adams mentioned. “However I assumed it was a very good type of leisure whereas nonetheless following the social distancing pointers.”

Zoot Scoot gives fat-tire e-scooter leases and gross sales. They’re obtainable to lease for $20 per hour, or $69.99 for the day. The scooters have a 40-mile vary, permitting prospects to see a lot of Vancouver. Leases may be made on-line at zootscoot.web or over the telephone.

Adams specified that the e-scooters ought to be used within the bike lane solely and never on any sidewalks. Helmets are offered by Zoot Scoot and the e-scooters can be found for buy at $1,695 every.

Adams mentioned the response has been wonderful, and the group has embraced them. Inside the first 5 weeks of opening, he bought the 50 items he had in inventory, and leases proceed to come back in.

“I needed to maintain it inexpensive so individuals can take pleasure in it with out monetary pressure, particularly in a time like this,” Adams mentioned.

He mentioned a number of native companies have come by to indicate assist. His neighbors subsequent door at Doppelganger rented eight scooters for an worker outing this summer season.

“That is my hometown. I’m proud to be doing my half in serving to our space develop,” Adams mentioned.

REV Rides

Nathan Pust relocated his enterprise REV Rides, which stands for Leisure Electrical Automobiles, out of his storage in Salmon Creek to a brand new downtown location at 500 Washington St., full with a workshop and showroom.

In October of 2018, Pust started REV Rides after he first acquired within the trade whereas touring to Asia and seeing the recognition of electrical autos there.

“I personally needed one and I all the time needed to begin my very own enterprise,” Adams mentioned. “I observed there have been hardly any scooter retailers within the U.S. and noticed there was a market there.”

Almost two years later, Pust moved REV Rides downtown to promote a big selection of leisure electrical autos, together with stand-up scooters, filth bikes and unicycles. In addition they supply upkeep within the workshop connected to the showroom.

“We’re a part of a terrific group down right here, and it’s actually helped with our native presence,” Pust mentioned.

Most of Pust’s enterprise comes by way of gross sales throughout the nation. He provides round 35 sellers with electrical autos and sells merchandise on-line at revrides.com to prospects in Seattle, San Francisco and New York. The situation downtown is open for gross sales and upkeep by appointment solely.

Pust mentioned he doesn’t see a lot battle between his and Adams’ enterprise. He believes they each can thrive in downtown Vancouver.

“As we had been each opening up and shifting in Jason got here by and launched himself,” Adams mentioned. “He’s a very nice man; we talked about our enterprise plans and I don’t see a number of overlap.”

Pust mentioned enterprise has boomed throughout the trade in the course of the pandemic, with gross sales doubling and nearly tripling.

Pust and Minon Minnieweather, Rev Rides’ consumer assist specialist, had a few theories on the excessive demand: Persons are bored sheltering indoors and searching for environmentally pleasant types of transportation.

Minnieweather identified that the first motivation is monetary causes. Leisure electrical autos require much less upkeep, reduce out fuel and parking prices and are sometimes extra inexpensive than a automobile for these desirous to keep away from public transit in the course of the pandemic.

“Now that everybody’s house, they’ve time now to consider practicality and their price range,” Minnieweather mentioned. “There’s a sensible facet but additionally a enjoyable facet to it.”

Adams hopes to make use of the upward momentum within the electrical automobile trade to attain his long-term objectives of franchising his enterprise. He plans on opening a second Zoot Scoot in Scottsdale, Ariz., in October.

“It’s all in regards to the seasons,” Adams mentioned. “When the rain comes again to the Northwest, it drops all the way down to 85 in Arizona and that’s after they wish to get exterior.”

Pust and his co-workers at REV Rides all participate in a group trip for electrical autos each Sunday.

He mentioned it’s been a pleasant strategy to get out of the home and see individuals.

“These leisure electrical autos are clean and quiet,” Pust mentioned. “You’ll be able to hear all of the birds and you’ll really feel the breeze rush by.”

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