Contxto – I don’t know about you, but personally, Grin has kept me on the edge of my seat with so many recent changes. First, it merged with Yellow in June to create Grow Mobility. Then due to legal issues, it left Mexico City in July, only to resume operations in August.
After a hectic summer, Grin finally seems to be regaining its momentum, but in Argentina. While Grin launched its scooters in nearby Buenos Aires in May, recently it expanded services to the San Isidro municipality.
Grin in San Isidro
Thanks to the sustainable mobility promoted in San Isidro, Grin is now part of the community. At the moment, it is the first Argentine municipality outside of Buenos Aires to have access to the company’s sustainable transportation solutions.
“Grin raised the possibility of putting this service in San Isidro, and after a feasibility study, we decided to join the initiative,” said San Isidro mayor, Gustavo Posse. “Besides collaborating to decrease the environmental impact produced by cars, it allows for savings on fuel to be made.”
“We see that San Isidro has a lot of potential for micromobility,” stated Ivan Amelong, the general director of Grin Argentina. “The electric scooter comes as a clean, efficient and fun alternative for transportation that integrates with the existing transportation system.”
According to the Ministry of Inspection and Transit of San Isidro, the plan is to provide a fleet of 450 scooters. Nevertheless, for the initial stage, there are 60 stations within the circuit. These will be available at different restaurants, cafes, as well as businesses.
“It is designed for short trips of approximately 10 minutes, offering users a new mobility option that contributes to the sustainable development of cities,” shared Amelong.
Test-drive
Last Saturday, both Grin and the San Isidro municipality offered a test-drive class for the community. During the event, people learned about the basics behind using Grin scooters. Furthermore, road safety and basic regulations were covered.
“The electric skateboards are agile, comfortable and are used in the main cities of the world to make short trips and connect with public transport, said the Sub-Secretary of Public Space, Leandro Martin.
“In some cases, the skateboard will replace cars, which will allow decongesting traffic in the district, and in turn, will help to emit less polluting gases into the environment, added Martin. “We will continue to build a sustainable San Isidro.”
During the event, community members got a sense of how Grin could contribute to their daily lives.
“I think it’s great, it’s a comfortable and recreational transportation alternative,” remarked Hernán Solís, one of the attendees. “I’m going to take advantage of it to go to work during the week. Hopefully, other districts replicate this idea.”
“It is an innovative proposal that will allow us to move quickly among short distances,” added Alberto Torres from the event. “Electric skateboards are easy, so I recommend them to everyone. They will also decrease traffic in San Isidro.”
Grin regulations
Even though San Isidro doesn’t have specific laws for this mode of transportation, there are some pre-defined safety regulations. Similar to Buenos Aires’, these include a minimum age of 16 to use the scooters, plus one person per unit. Plus, lights should be on at all times during night-drives.
Also, users must drive within designated bike lanes or on the right side of the street to avoid trouble. All the while, they should wear a helmet and at a speed limit of 25 kilometers per hour.
When it comes to the price, unlocking the scooter will cost ARS$15 (US$0.25) and for every minute of use, ARS$8 will be charged.
-CZ
