GET READY TO ROLL WITH URB-E
Ease of use key to scooter
The next transportation revolution may have nothing to do with electric cars and falcon-wing doors after all, but rather, little folding electric scooters that zip us that last mile to work.
I asked to review the URB-E over the summer, as people were flitting precariously down sidewalks on hoverboards, a new Segway with reckless abandon. A world with no handlebars is not for me. So I got to know the URB-E.
The URB-E is a solid, 30-ish-pound motorized electric scooter made of aluminum alloy and carbon fiber, constructed in partnership with Bauhaus design enthusiasts who believe form should enhance function. The most distinguishing feature of the $1,500 URB-E is easily that it is dotted with large holes, both for aesthetic value and to make it lighter.
Being the biggest lummox I know, I first watched a few other people trying the URB-E. For my test subjects, it was the same. They’d start off slow, with their feet above the pavement on each side for balance, and then, after a minute or two, they’d whizz away for the next several minutes and then ask for a few minutes more. The URB-E definitely looked fun.
I figured that my clumsiness would provide URB-E with, at worst, a crash test dummy. After all, I am a person who never made it off the test track of Bermuda Scooter Rental.
Starting in my driveway, which is a circle about an eighth of a mile, I found myself in a few minutes managing curves with, dare I say, ease? Suddenly I was down the street and back again, feeling much less nerdy than I likely looked.
The vanity thing has been an issue in the past. I think in many ways, the Segway was released too early. We hadn’t nerded out with Google’s Project Glass and Pokemon Go yet. I think it’s safe to say we’re more accepting of our nerdiness as a nation now. And there are a confluence of factors at play: Public transportation has a reputation for being unreliable at best, car ownership among millennials is decreasing, and more people than ever now dread that 20-minute walk that follows a 10-minute drive and an hourlong ride on the Commuter Rail into the city. I expect electric scooters will increasingly get us commuters the last mile to work. The question is just which one to buy.
Although I have no chance of staying alive in downtown Boston on a scooter, I am now strangely confident on the URB-E. The shock-dampening suspension coupled with a generous seat made for a surprisingly smooth ride.
There are two sets of foot pegs, one in the front and another in the rear, which I preferred. Although I went uphill just fine, though sacrificing the 15 mph top speed for sure, my 6-foot-4 husband had a tough time getting the URB-E to keep its conviction traversing the same hills, which was a bummer, but not a deal-breaker.
Accessories include a basket, a bell and a Bluetooth speaker. And the URB-E goes about 20 miles on a charge.
It folds like a stroller — as in, not completely flat, but mostly good enough. I would personally appreciate a flatter fold, which could probably be accomplished by decreasing the battery and therefore the range, which I think is a worthwhile trade-off. It’s that few extra inches and poundage that makes it difficult to fit in the overhead bins on the Commuter Rail, which is URB-E’s target demographic.
The URB-E was specifically appealing to me because it is made and manufactured in the United States, which sets it apart. Segway just launched the Ninebot by Segway mini-PRO, a hands-free, self-balancing personal transport scooter with a reasonable price, at $800. Last year Segway was purchased by a Chinese rival, Beijingbased Ninebot. Something to keep in mind.
Winter is coming, and I predict more of these electric scooters will be on our icy sidewalks. Just be sure to wear your helmet so you … look extra cool.