Competitive contract allows St. John’s University to get its micromobility program up and running in just a matter of months, significantly cutting downtime and cost of the traditional procurement process
Los Angeles, CA – September 30, 2021 – Today Wheels, the leading last-mile, shared electric mobility platform, announced an exclusive partnership with St John’s University through E&I Cooperative Services that provided them with a quick and easy way to add micromobility to their campus. E&I is the largest, member-owned non-profit sourcing cooperative serving the needs of higher-education institutions nationwide. Led by their Student Government, St. John’s University is the first to take advantage of the competitively solicited E&I Wheels agreement and provide a safe, sustainable, and cost-effective transportation option to get around campus, also marking the first shared e-scooter program at a university in New York City.
With students and faculty returning to campus after months of remote and hybrid classes, socially distant forms of transit are now more important than ever, especially with many university shuttle services on pause or eliminated entirely due to COVID-19.
“We’re excited that colleges and universities can more quickly and easily offer an alternative way for students to get to and from (and around) campus through this agreement with E&I,” said Marco McCottry, CEO of Wheels. “Our goal has always been to make sure everyone has access to safe, sustainable forms of transportation, and this contract is a step toward achieving that goal.”
E&I college and university members can offer Wheels on campus without the time and cost associated with the traditional request for proposal (RFP) process. Members are not invoiced when they participate in the program, taking the heavy administrative burden off of the school and allowing them to focus on what is most important: providing a high-quality education for their students. Students can simply access a Wheels device and pay as they go or they can sign up for Wheels’ first-ever Semester Pass, which will unlock $125 of riding credits for only $100, saving students 20%, and waive the $1 unlock fee for each ride until the end of the semester.
“With the help of Wheels, innovators in the micromobility space, St. John’s is excited to provide students and faculty the opportunity to safely navigate campus and neighboring areas conveniently and cost-effectively on e-scooters,” said the Student Government, Inc. at St. John’s. “As we strive to boost campus life, Wheels just gives that extra push!”
Today’s news comes on the heels of several recent Wheels announcements transforming urban transportation safely and sustainably. In July, Wheels launched in Santa Monica and West Hollywood to give residents and tourists an end-to-end micromobility option across Los Angeles. Most recently, Wheels teamed up with Lime to offer Seattle access to its electric vehicle through the Lime app.
To learn more, visit: http://52.32.253.21.
About Wheels
Wheels is a last-mile, shared electric mobility platform whose seated form factor changes the landscape in dockless mobility. In addition to being seated, Wheels devices have a low center of gravity and 14-inch wheels to help navigate uneven pavement surfaces. Wheels recently launched a first-of-its-kind integrated helmet system that gives riders physical access to a shareable helmet with every ride they take. Because of its unique design, Wheels devices have a broad appeal, with half of its riders being women and one-third being over 35. Wheels is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, and is currently expanding operations across the U.S. and Europe. Learn more at www.takewheels.com.
Wheels Contact
Nathan Huber
Head of Universities
214-794-5744
Press Contact
Kate Helete
805-458-5093
