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What Does the Public Think About Veo Scooters? What Does the Public Think About Veo's?

Council to discuss contract extention at next meeting

By Luke Backman

Reporter: That’s the noise you first hear when you pick up one of the all too familiar green and black Electric Scooters or Bikes in the city.

The electric scooter brand name “Veo” has become a hit in the city over the last few years. As there’s been an estimated one million rides the company has given out.

But as the contract comes to close, an unexpected discussion has been raised, should the city renew the contract?

Vaughn Dunn, a student at Syracuse University, believes that Veo’s are both a useful and convenient way to get around.

Vaughn Dunn: Well usually you’ll do it from campus or my friends houses because they’re always around. But sometimes if I’m not feeling too hot and I don’t want to walk back from school I’ll just look for a Veo and it will usually take 20 minutes out of my trip and that’s really nice.

Reporter: While it’s clear that people in Syracuse love riding on the Veo’s. One thing Sam Gruber, the Co-President of the Westcott Neighborhood Association says, he would like a little more organization when it comes to putting the Veo’s up after you’re done riding them instead of just dropping them like this on the ground.

Sam Gruber: It’s public safety for people who walk the sidewalks, for pedestrians. Because the scooters are often left across the sidewalks, I have many many pictures that I have taken as I walk the dog documenting this.

Reporter: Additionally, Gruber doesn’t believe it has to be docking stations, but just a better pickup system.

Sam Gruber: I would support Veo’s but with increased improvement on pickup’s it doesn’t necessarily have to be docking stations

Reporter: Syracuse citizens will make sure to stay alert to the September 30th council meeting to see if the Veo contract is renewed.

Luke Backman. NCC News

Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) Whether you are walking or driving around Syracuse, it’s almost a guarantee that you will see a black and greenish scooter race past you at some point. These scooters have become a part of everyday transportation around the city for some people. But not everybody is happy with them, in fact as the cities contract is running out, a discussion on whether or not to keep Veo’s in Syracuse will be had.

On September 30th, Syracuse counselors will discuss whether or not they want to renew the contract with Veo to keep the electric scooters in the city. A vote that at one point seemed like it would just be a given to renew. But as the date grows closer, people continue to voice their opinion on the situation.

Veo’s have provided an easy form of transportation as the company has said that in their 3 years in Syracuse, they have already provided over a million rides. It seems safe to say that Syracuse citizens have taken full advantage of Veo.

One demographic in particular that seems to really find themselves attracted to the electric scooters/bikes are the students at Syracuse University. Whether it’s from going from class to class, or just needing a break from walking, students at the University seem to be big fans of Veo.

One student in particular, Vaughn Dunn says that he would be “heartbroken” if the city didn’t renew the contract and there were no more Veo’s. Dunn knows the worth of the electric scooters as they save him a lot of “time and energy” when trying to navigate the campus.

But it’s not just students who support Veo, local citizens also support what the company is doing. The Co-President of the Westcott Neighborhood Association, Sam Gruber is in support of Veo, but he does have his opinions on what can improve.

First, he believes there needs to be an improvement when it comes to picking up the scooters/bikes after someone has finished riding them. Noting they become a safety hazard when they are just laying on the sidewalk. Additionally he would like to see them bring the costs of the ride down for people. Stating that the people who are more “needy” of the ride deserve to have a opportunity at the transportation method.

While these are what people in the city believe, at the end of the day it will be up to the Syracuse council to decide what they will like to do when it comes to the contract. It seems from the outside looking in everything has been working out for the best, but on September 30th the vote will be made. It seems like everywhere around the city you can find the electric scooters/bikes but depending on the vote, that might all change next month.

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