Spin scooters launch date in Athens changed to Spring Semester

Last week, we announced a partnership with the City of Athens to offer an electric scooter (e-scooter) transportation option to students, faculty, staff and the greater community. Our plan is to make 100 e-scooters available throughout campus and surrounding neighborhoods. The e-scooter supplier, Spin, a company owned by Ford Motor Co., has notified the University this week of an inventory shortage, which will postpone availability of e-scooters in Athens until the spring, with a new launch date anticipated in February 2020.

The University worked closely with campus stakeholders and partners with the City of Athens over the past year to develop a plan that prioritizes safety considerations while allowing implementation of this new green transportation alternative for our community.

We have learned from best practices at other colleges and universities that allow e-scooter access on their campuses, and we have put protocols in place proactively to mitigate issues related to safety.

Despite the delayed launch, Spin has committed to having a presence within the city and campus community over the next six weeks through completing a variety of safety demonstrations and customer awareness engagements.

Spin will be on hand for safety events in Athens to demonstrate device use and address customer inquiries from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 and from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9. Both sessions will take place outside the fourth floor of Baker Center. 

To purchase a helmet, riders can connect with Spin Customer Service 1-888-262-5189 or support@spin.pm for a promo code and additional information. Other events are being planned, and we will share an update when additional information is available.

E-scooter users are reminded to ride responsibly, obey the rules of the roadway, adhere to traffic signs and signals and yield to pedestrians. Riders are reminded that scooters should be operated for single occupancy use only and helmet use is strongly encouraged.

Spin has provided a safety video and FAQs to encourage rider safety. 

Ohio University Transportation and Parking Services offers e-scooter operating best practices online at https://www.ohio.edu/transportation-parking/shared-active-transportation-programs.