Metro Mobility Brings Low-Cost E-Bike Rental Program to Worcester
E-bike transit hubs with $1/day rentals to income qualified users offer first-mile/last mile connections to any destination
Metro Mobility, a Cambridge, MA based mobility startup, in collaboration with the City of Worcester and the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA), has brought low-cost self-serve e-bike rentals to New England's second-most populous city. The e-bike stations, powered by Metro Mobility’s patented ChargeLock system, are located near WRTA bus stops to create multimodal hubs where the round-trip e-bike rentals provide a first-mile/last-mile solution to transit riders.
The project is made possible by grant funding from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) Accelerating Clean Transportation for All program which funds equity-focused transportation programs for underserved communities.
To commemorate the launch of the program’s first station at WRTA Central Hub, Metro Mobility held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 5th with key public and private stakeholders including Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty, City Manager Eric D. Batista, WRTA, MassCEC, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The site offers an ideal location for multimodal connections with all 23 of WRTA’s bus lines passing through the Central Hub and the MBTA’s Commuter Rail, Amtrak, and intercity coach buses located a short walk away at Union Station.
The self-serve e-bike rentals are enabled by Metro Mobility’s patented ChargeLock™ stations, IoT and GPS enabled e-bikes, and unique rental software. Unlike traditional bikeshare, Metro Mobility e-bikes allow affordable all-day or overnight rentals and can be locked to any bike rack or pole while rented, allowing their use for first-mile / last-mile connections to any destination.
ChargeLock stations use a durable, flexible braided steel cable to both lock and charge the e-bikes simultaneously, a design that simplifies the user experience and can be produced at a fraction of the cost of traditional docking stations. Users simply plug in the cable to end their rental, lock the e-bike, and begin charging.
The program seeks to improve transit access for low income communities typically facing a disproportionately high transportation burden with income qualified users receiving a discounted rate of $1 for all day e-bike rental.
Throughout the 2 year pilot, Metro Mobility will collect usage data including e-bike mileage and mode replacement to measure emissions reduction, and survey users to track transit connections and determine when transit use is enabled by the e-bikes. The project will provide a blueprint for other regional transit authorities to incorporate micromobility in a cost effective and equitable manner in the future.
Metro Mobility operates shared e-bike libraries in Lawrence, Malden, Medford, Quincy, Dorchester, and Mattapan, and provides their ChargeLock technology and software to a number of micromobility operators.
About Metro Mobility
Metro Mobility is a leading innovator in the micromobility industry, dedicated to developing solutions that enhance urban transportation while prioritizing sustainability and user experience. Based in Cambridge, MA, Metro Mobility is at the forefront of the movement to create a more efficient and environmentally friendly future for cities around the world. For more information, please visit www.metromobility.io.
Contact:
Ryan Walas
Metro Mobility, LLC
+1-617-491-7200 x202
rwalas@metromobility.io