Residents and visitors in the City of Vernon can now hit the streets with Neuron once again as we kick off the 2022 riding season with the  redeployment of our  safety-first e-scooters.  

When we launched in Vernon in July 2021, our e-scooters were embraced by the community, made a meaningful impact on the local economy, and supported the city’s Climate Action goal of reducing emissions to net zero by 2050. Neuron looks forward to partnering with the City of Vernon to build on last year’s success. 

E-scooters provide a valuable transportation alternative  and are proven to reduce car journeys, congestion, and greenhouse gas emissions. The introduction of micromobility options like e-scooters increases resident and tourist travel around the city, resulting in more purchases at local businesses. Vernon’s e-scooter program has also created new local jobs in the city, with Neuron being certified as a Living Wage Employer in B.C. 

A recent survey of Vernon’s riders showed 93% thought e-scooters had a positive impact on the community. 2021 trip data also revealed some amazing insights, including: 

• Neuron riders have traveled more than 160,000 kilometres throughout Vernon 
• 40% of trips replaced a car journey, saving an estimated 10 tonnes of CO2 emissions 
• More than half of the rides were for commuting purposes, to get to restaurants and cafes, or to explore the city, while 59% made a purchase during their trip 

Our e-scooters are fitted with the world’s first integrated helmet, which is mandatory for use in Vernon. Riders, who must be at least 16 years of age, can book and use the e-scooters through Neuron’s user-friendly app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play and set up in a matter of minutes. Single trips cost C$1.15 to unlock the e-scooter and 35c per minute thereafter. More frequent users have the option to purchase Neuron Passes, a subscription service, available in three-day (C$25), weekly (C$33), or monthly (C$89) options.  

As 2021 comes to a close, we are thrilled to announce the completion of our successful first riding season in Canada. Our year end trip data shows exceptional program uptake, with Neuron riders having travelled over 1.2 million kilometers across our cities nationally.

 We first entered the Canadian market in May 2021, quickly securing competitive permits in Ottawa, Calgary, Red Deer and Vernon. Since our launch earlier this year, Neuron e-scooters have helped tens of thousands of people get to where they need to be in a safe, convenient and environmentally friendly way.

Our e-scooter rental programs are helping to support local businesses, making measurable contributions to local economic recovery efforts. According to Neuron’s recent rider surveys, 80% of riders used Neuron e-scooters to visit local businesses and to explore cities, while 62% made a purchase from a local vendor during their most recent trip.

Our rider surveys also revealed that e-scooters are getting Canadians out of their cars in large numbers, supporting regional environmental sustainability efforts. Across our Canadian cities, 46% of all Neuron trips replaced a car journey, leading to an estimated 90 tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided this year alone.

Throughout the 2021 riding season safety remained front and centre. We announced several major safety initiatives and new technology innovations and held many #ScootSafe education events across all cities, directly engaging with thousands of people on local riding rules and best practices for e-scooter riding.

Thank you to our city partners and riders for an incredible first season in Canada!