Starting July 1, Skip is excited to open two new hubs in Austin and San Diego as we expand from our existing operations in San Francisco and Washington D.C.
Our mission is to energize cities by making smaller, simpler electric mobility accessible to everyone. In order to make these systems successful, we believe it’s crucial to invest in the cities we serve.
Limited space and more cars has made congestion worse in almost every major city. Public transportation development is expensive and lags behind the urgent need for increased mobility access in most neighborhoods. Shared electric scooters can provide a fast and affordable way to zip around the city without battling traffic or parking costs. But all our neighbors, whether they are scooter riders or not, are affected when scooters are blocking pedestrian access or left unmaintained. Skip is taking a different approach.
We believe in proactively working with the current transit authorities and elected officials in the cities we serve because safe, affordable, sustainable, urban transportation requires a partnership. We worked with DDOT to create the first permit for shared electric scooters in the US when we launched our hub in Washington DC last year. We are proud to be part of their successful expansion, growing the DC network from hundreds to thousands of vehicles across several operators. This expansion has been regulated from day one through a transparent and collaborative relationship, and was met with enthusiasm and support from riders and non-riders alike.
Similarly, this strategy is part of why Skip is one of only two operators permitted in San Francisco, and SFMTA noted our “unique and innovative approaches that demonstrated the highest level of commitment to solving known challenges and concerns, ranging from public safety and user education to equitable access and collaboration with the city and its diverse communities”. Our approach also means taking the extra step to communicate with regulators and community groups, especially when they have concerns. We believe that trust and a lasting partnership is the best path to long-term sustainability and growth.
We also open and operate our own repair and maintenance facilities that are staffed with incredible team members we hire and train locally. Maintaining our vehicles at a high standard ensures a more reliable and safe rider experience, results in longer vehicle lifetimes that reduce waste, and create new jobs where success improves how we live and work in our neighborhoods.
We are thrilled to start planting our roots (and eating lots of tacos!) in San Diego and Austin.
***Skip is hiring for a wide range of positions and recruiting our Rangers (the best scooter bounty-hunters in the business). Join us for a group ride and tacos in Austin or San Diego!
