Extra
Press Release: Mopeds Come to Berkeley
Service costs $1 per person and $0.35/minute per ride and also has low-income discounts
These electric mopeds, run by Revel, allow licensed drivers, age 21 and over to take low-cost, short trips as simple as a ride to work, the grocery store, or to an outdoor gathering with members of your social bubble.
Electric mopeds now join bicycles and cars as options for Berkeleyans to take one-way local trips using shared vehicles at costs that are much lower than owning one's own.
These shared transportation options among households decrease sole vehicle ownership, increase sustainability, and eliminate a critical barrier to mass transit - the last mile. Shared use increases the time a single vehicle is used for travel while decreasing time stored on public streets for parking.
Using Revel mopeds
Before using the mopeds, you'll need to download the Revel app and create an account. After uploading your driver's license and photo, you'll watch a safety video and complete a short online safety exam before being cleared to drive. Once your account is confirmed, you can use the app to find, reserve, and unlock mopeds.
Trips cost $1 per person to unlock the vehicle and $0.35 per minute. Each moped can carry two people, and comes equipped with two helmets - which must be worn while using the vehicle. Vehicles are limited to a maximum speed of 30mph and must stay on local streets. The mopeds are not permitted on freeways, in bike lanes, or on sidewalks. Revel trips are covered by third-party liability insurance. There is a one-time $5 registration fee.
For those new to using mopeds, Revel offers free in-person lessons in North Oakland.
Parking
Revel riders do not have to pay for parking at City of Berkeley meters, but you must park your vehicle in a legal parking space at the end of your trip and avoid locations designated as no-parking zones within the app. Mopeds should be parked perpendicular to the curb with the rear wheel at the curb.
Discounts available for low-income riders
Revel's access program provides discounted rates for anyone who is actively participating in or eligible for local, state, or federal assistance programs such as CalFresh, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).
Access program members will receive a $10 account credit to offset the registration fee once their identify is verified and a 40% discount on vehicle unlock and per-minute rates.
City programs for shared electric vehicles help meet goals for equity, sustainability
Revel mopeds are part of the City's one-way vehicle share program, which launched in 2016 under the banner of one-way car share and was amended in June 2020 to include scooters.
With transportation responsible for 60% of Berkeley's greenhouse gas emissions, increasing electric vehicle usage is a core aspect of the City's overall climate strategy. Shifting more trips to walking, biking, and shared electric vehicles is one of the four primary goals named in the City's Electric Mobility Roadmap, which was adopted by Council in June 2020. One-way vehicle share supports City's strategic plan goal to "be a global leader in addressing climate change, advancing environmental justice, and protecting the environment."
This service furthers the City's ongoing efforts to improve transportation equity, allowing those who can't afford a car another option.
One-way vehicle share is one of a variety of tools the City uses to make it easier to get around Berkeley. Efforts like the Shattuck Reconfiguration and Pedestrian Safety project and Hearst Avenue Complete Streets project make Berkeley's streets safer for all modes of travel, including walking, biking, taking transit, and driving. Likewise, the goBerkeley program actively manages parking to increase parking availability and reduce the harmful effects of circling for parking.
