Former USC Student and Winner of ABC’s Hit Show “Shark Tank” Announces Official Scootaway Launch Set for Columbia

Launch Set for Columbia on Thursday May, 7th

COLUMBIA, SC – Scootaway announced that Columbia will be the first of 20 cities to launch its new on-demand motorbike ride share program. The announcement was made jointly by Frank Scozzafava, former USC Journalism student, founder, president, and CEO of Scootaway, and Mike Campbell, former candidate for Lt. Governor, son of the late Governor Carroll A. Campbell, Jr., and a Scootaway board member.  According to Scozzafava and Campbell, hundreds of additional cities across the country are planned for launches over the next few years.

Beginning May 7, forty scooters will be rentable from 30 different commuter-friendly locations around Columbia and USC.  After receiving feedback during the testing period, the firm hopes to bring 500 more scooters to Columbia in August. Scozzafava’s previous business venture was a winner on the TV show “Shark Tank”, and Scootaway will be featured on the May 8th premiere episode of a “Shark Tank” spin-off, ABC’s “Beyond the Tank”.

Scootaway Features & Benefits:

• Scooters are rentable for an affordable fee of $2.99 per half-hour, using a secure smartphone app that pre-registers and qualifies each renter, then enables the renter to conveniently unlock, start a scooter, and access helmets. The Scootaway app can be downloaded to any iPhone or Android device.
• There is a one-time registration, requiring a user name, credit card, and a regular driver’s license (no special motorcycle license required).The credit card is charged only for the time used with no registration fee.
• A scooter can easily be found by using GPS on the map.
• Gas, two helmets with eye-shield, parking, and insurance are all included in the rental.
• A scooter may be picked up at one location and returned to a different location.

Scootaway Requirements and Safety Features

Scooters are specifically designed for safe, city street use and are equipped with helmets and a GPS tracking system that Scootaway monitors. The company can remotely disable a scooter if its operator fails to abide by safety guidelines.  Scootaway is committed to going beyond current state regulations for driving mopeds.

• Riders must be 18 and have a valid driver’s license for a car.
• Riders must wear a helmet with built-in eye-shield.
• Scooters have flashing safety lights on the front and rear. Helmets and scooters have reflective tape.  Maximum speed is 30 MPH.
• Scooters are maintained and refueled by trained, local teams.
• To encourage safety, Scootaway offers weekly training courses (taught by state-certified motorcycle instructors) and provides free rides and a T-shirt for those who participate in the program.
• Scooters are environmentally friendly and get up to 100 mpg.

“We are very excited that Columbia will be the first city to launch Scootaway,” said Scozzafava.  “We identified Columbia as a model city that could benefit from the Scootaway rental program.  The city’s size, location, geography, student population, progressive embrace of green technology, and commitment to alleviate traffic and parking congestion caused by traditional modes of commuter transportation made it the perfect choice. We plan to have 20 cities deployed with over 10,000 scooters in operation within the next 12 months, starting with Columbia and moving to Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and South Beach in Miami.”

“I’m excited that out of all of the cities and universities around the country, Scootaway chose to introduce this innovative form of transportation to Columbia and USC,” Campbell added.  “With Scootaway’s planned expansion throughout South Carolina, the long-term potential economic impact in terms of manufacturing of the scooters, shipping through the port Charleston, and job creation, will be significant.”

About Scootaway

Scootaway is the developer of an innovative motor scooter rental and ride sharing program that is designed to provide fast, safe, and reliable civic transportation for medium and large cities and colleges seeking to innovate the commuting process and eliminate car trips, vehicle pollution, and parking congestion.  For more information, visit www.scootawayscooters.com or www.facebook.com/scootawayscooters.