Austin has quickly become a scooter city. Now it has a new option to glide around town: Uber announced Thursday that it is launching JUMP e-scooters in Austin.
The scooters look similar to the Bird and Lime scooters that have been on Austin streets and sidewalks since April. One big difference is that you can find and activate the JUMP scooters using the Uber app -- just tap the mode switch at the top of the home screen. From there you can select a JUMP electric-assist bicycle or a scooter.
The scooters cost $1 for the first 5 minutes and 15 cents for each minute after. You can reserve scooters or just find one through the Uber app and go unlock it with a smartphone.
Like Bird and Lime, the JUMP scooters are dockless and the company is urging users to leave them near bike racks and other places that are out of the way of pedestrians and other traffic. They're also teaming up with helmet companies, and they're giving helmets away for free in Austin. You can pick one up at Uber's Greenlight Hub at 507 Calles St. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3-6 p.m. (while supplies last).
JUMP, which was acquired by Uber earlier this year, is also offering Austinites free rides from Thursday through Nov. 11 for up to 30 minutes per ride and 15 cents for each minute after. You can take up to five free rides per day, the company says.
Uber initially launched its JUMP scooters in Santa Monica, Calif. Lyft also launched its scooters there, too, after initially deploying them in Denver.
The launch of Uber's JUMP scooters comes as Austin residents consider a new set of a rules to govern the use of dockless e-scooters, bikes and other devices. Residents have until Nov. 3 to share their opinions on the proposed regulations, which include provisions to let the brands expand their fleet sizes if they comply with laws and encourage good behavior in parking and riding.
