A local news reporter died after being thrown off a Revel electric moped in New York City.
According to a police spokesperson who spoke to Gothamist,Italy CBS 2 New York television reporter Nina Kapur was riding as a passenger on the back of a Revel moped in Greenpoint, Brooklyn on Saturday.
Detective Denise Moroney told Gothamist that the vehicle’s driver suddenly “swerved for an unknown reason,” at which point the 26-year-old Kapur was ejected from the moped. She was pronounced dead at 5:30 p.m. at Bellevue Hospital. The driver experienced minor injuries.
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Revel would not confirm whether its moped was involved, but told Gothamist it was “actively investigating” what happened.
As Gothamist points out, this is the first death involving a Revel electric moped since the company launchedin New York City in 2018.
Ride-sharing company Revel expandedinto Manhattan just this year after being confined to areas of the city’s outerboroughs, including Brooklyn and Queens. The company offered free memberships to healthcare workers during the height of the city’s COVID-19 outbreak
The company’s mopeds can go up to around 30 miles per hour, putting it in a vehicle classification that requiresa driver’s license, but not a motorcycle license.
According a Revel spokesperson, in addition to being licensed, drivers must also be at least 21 years old and follow all traffic laws. Passengers must be over the age of 18. Two helmets are provided with each vehicle and all riders must wear one.
Electric mopeds, along with e-bikes, have been experiencing a surge in usagesince the coronavirus pandemicbegan. In metropolitan areas like New York City, the vehicles have been especially popular as residents try to abide by social distancing rules and avoid public transportation.