Perpetual gridlock in Los Angeles and San Francisco has inspired a booming industry of on-demand electric rental scooters, now a familiar sight whizzing along sidewalks and bike lanes in cities around the world.In a deal that could mark the first major step toward a broader consolidation, Santa Monica’s Bird Rides Inc. on Wednesday acquired the San Francisco electric scooter company Scoot for an undisclosed sum.
Part of Scoot’s value to Bird comes in the form of both its long and amicable relationship with San Francisco regulators and its ability to operate in the city, several sources familiar with the industry told The Times. In awarding permits to Scoot and its local competitor, Skip, over Lime, Bird and other applicants, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency cited the winners’ commitments to safety and Scoot’s established record of operating a fleet of vehicles in San Francisco legally.
“It’s a really, really great business for raising money because you just start getting customers,” Evans said. “You just assume the cost will be fixed later, but the verdict is still out on that.”
Anarchy reigns apparently
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