How did your business initially get its start?
Headquartered in San Francisco, Spin is one of the leading micromobility companies and a unit of Ford Mobility. We have been recognized for launching the first stationless mobility program in the United States and were instrumental in crafting the world’s first mobility permit system. As a trusted partner, Spin currently operates electric scooters in many cities and universities nationwide in the U.S. and Europe. Spin consists of a diverse team of experienced professionals from government and private sectors and the transportation advocacy world.
What is Spin’s mission as a company?
As a micromobility company, our mission is to give people the freedom to move, and bring people, communities and their urban environments closer together. Spin is unique in that we are a subsidiary of Ford Mobility, instead of being venture-backed. This enables us to think long-term and invest in the communities we operate in. Spin began as a bike share company in 2016, and was acquired by Ford in 2018. Now, we primarily offer scooters.
How does Spin support local businesses?
Spin has a strong focus on supporting local businesses, and business owners and riders alike benefit from scooter use. Since launching, Spin has partnered with numerous business improvement districts, community organizations and advocacy groups to ensure our program offerings and deployment are driving riders to local businesses. We encourage our users to support local businesses in our Spin monthly newsletters, and our Spin for Business program provides discounted rides for businesses.* Organizations we partner within San Francisco include the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Walk San Francisco, Sunday Streets, Imprint City in the Bayview, San Francisco Transit Riders, and many others.
Please reach out to julia.wunsch@spin.pm for more information on Spin for Business.
How is Spin providing essential transportation services to people during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Micromobility is necessary for some people now more than ever. Some individuals still must complete essential trips to and from hospitals, grocery stores and banks. In fact, local governments have declared micromobilty an essential service, and it is unique in that it allows for physical distancing.
Spin has been collaborating with our cities to fill transit gaps left by transit service restrictions in response to the pandemic. In San Francisco, we have increased the number of scooters deployed in the Western region of the city, which is a mainly residential area, following reductions in SFMTA’s service. Since then, Spin has seen a dramatic (nearly 300%) increase in ridership in this area that relies heavily on MUNI service. Our teams are working hard to give people the freedom to move during these challenging times.
How does Spin promote transportation equity on a daily basis?
Spin is committed to ensuring everyone can use our scooters to engage with their communities. Spin Access is designed to reduce barriers to mobility, and it provides riders with free 30-minute rides and enables those without smartphones, mobile location services or credit cards to use our scooters. Learn more and sign up for Spin Access .
How is Spin educating its users on safe scooter riding practices?
Spin recently launched , our new campaign to empower users with the freedom to move safely within their communities, especially during challenging times. With the pandemic limiting our ability to hold in-person safety demonstrations, we’ve enhanced our digital offerings to allow the vast majority of our training to be virtual. The core of the Spin Safe Digital curriculum is five safety videos, hosted on a newly redesigned safety webpage, along with a safety quiz, promo code incentives, and enhanced rider communications via Spin’s blog, emails, and social media platforms. Check out our website to learn more!