GMU students can now use Spin escooters on campus

In what’s being described as an effort to provide an eco-friendly alternative to commuting at George Mason University (GMU), Spin has launched a fleet of its dockless escooters on campus.

The GMU community could access Spin escooters as of Jan. 24 and the mobility company offered safety demonstrations on campus between Feb. 4 and Feb. 7. On-campus riders can unlock escooters for $1 and ride for 24 cents per minute. Though the escooters can be docked anywhere, GMU has designated escooter parking areas around campus. Riders are rewarded with a 25-cent discount off their next ride when they park the escooters in these designating areas.

“We’re excited to bring Spin to George Mason University,” said Josh Bear, general manager for Spin’s D.C. area operation, in a statement. “We’ve seen so much potential in the region since deploying scooters in Fairfax City last summer and are excited to work alongside the George Mason University community to provide students with an accessible, affordable and sustainable means of traveling around campus.”

To ensure escooters are being used within university lines, each vehicle is equipped with a GPS tech that will automatically power the escooter down when it crosses a specific geographical area. This can happen if riders attempt to take the escooters off campus, or even when riders enter pedestrian-only zones on campus. Riders are allowed to ride escooters on the roads or in bike lanes, but they shouldn’t be ridden on the sidewalks or bike trails.

This Spin expansion is part of a collaboration with GMU and Fairfax, Virginia, in the city’s pilot of a shared mobility program. This pilot program will run through June 30 and along with Spin, mobility companies Bird and Lime have been awarded permits. Bird first launched its escooters in Fairfax and at GMU in November, while Lime still has yet to release its fleet. The city is also piloting ebikes, but there hasn’t been a permit awarded to an operator yet.