Meet Telepod – a new way to travel & move between places in Singapore
Jonathan Jilaxzone
Early this year, I wrote article telling about the first bike sharing platform introduced in Singapore (check here). And today Bike sharing is something common here in Singapore. Started with Ofo with their yellow bikes, then now the city state country has at least another 4 vendors providing the bike sharing services – Obike, Mobike, GBike, Baicycle by Xiaomi.
Singapore – Keep Improving
As Singapore continues to position itself as a smart city – smart nation in all aspects, Singapore – the government, companies, and its residents – keeps (try) improving the way its people lives, works and enjoying the city. While recently government did open house for its newest train network system – the DTL (Downtown Line) – which stretches from East at Tampines to West at Bukit Panjang, and although the city state now has at least 5 vendors doing bike sharing, it’s not stopping these group of NTU students to get creative and help improve the way people can travel between places where MRT, public buses and even shared bikes are not really an option. Meet Telepod – the E-scooter for sharing.
Meet Telepod the E-Scooter: The new transport system in the City State
How I meet and get to know Telepod
Recently I spotted something different and new appearing in the bicycle park at Tanjong Pagar Center, they are e-scooter. However, when I looked closer, turned out they are not just normal e-scooter owned by individuals. They are color the same black and blue and have the same branding labeled as Telepod and the most important thing is they have serial number and barcodes! Long story short, Singapore, apart from the bike sharing, now has e-scooter sharing as well. It’s the first in Singapore to provide e-scooter for sharing.
Meet Telepod the E-scooter: The First E-Scooter Sharing Platform in Town
Advantages of using Telepod vs MRT, Public Buses, Bike Sharing
1. It can reach places where MRT and Public buses are not really passing through it. I am an UberEats Courier and I struggle a lot to deliver in places like Orchard and City area, because there’s so much one way, uphill, and places not connected by bus or MRT, now with Telepod, these unconnected places can be easily reached.
2. It does not take any of your energy. While using bike, it can reach places where MRT and public buses are not really passing through it, however using bike, it consumes your energy. Telepod on the other hand, since it’s an e-scooter, it has its own battery, all you need to do is just press that accelerate button.
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2. Then Register yourself by providing your name, contact number, email address and password
3. Read the warning signs, using Telepod E-Scooter: only allowed on footpaths and cycling/shared paths, have to keep speed between 15-25KM/h, left button is for braking, right button is for accelerating, while middle is for turning on the e-scooter.
Meet Telepod the E-Scooter – Things to note before using the E-Scooter
4. Give the app accessto use your location while using the app. Fail to do so will cause you won’t be able to locate nearest Telepod E-Scooter.
5. Do deposit of $49 – similar like Obike and Mobike Bike Sharing. Deposit is refundable as long as no damage to the E-Scooter after use.
6. Locate the Telepod E-Scooter. There’s one in Tanjong Pagar Center Bicycle Park. At the time this article is written, there are currently 22 locations island-wide and growing.
Telepod is charging $0.09/min, which means typical 15 minutes use to travel you from one place to another place will cost you $1.35 – cheaper than taking Taxi/Uber to go to places hard to reach by MRT and public buses.
To make it easier for you, here the time and cost on a typical usage:
1 min – $0.09
10 min – $0.9
15 min – $1.35
30 min – $2.7
60 min – $5.4
Things to note about Telepod – E-Scooter Sharing
Unlike Bike Sharing where most vendor allow you to park the bicycle anywhere you like – as long as it’s not inside your own house, using Telepod is a bit different. You cannot park the Telepod E-Scooter anywhere you like, but on designated places called the Pod.
Meet Telepod the E-Scooter: Telepod designated drop off Point
To start using, you need to scan the barcode from the E-Scooter, however when you are finished using, in order to stop it charging rental fees to you, you need to scan the barcode at the designated pod area. Fail to scan the barcodes at the Pod after renting, the Telepod will still charge you rental fees.
Bring It All Together
Great idea guys! With now E-Scooter joining the sharing race, Singapore residents get another additional option when it comes to commute between places. And given its easiness and more fun to use, faster to reach destination and most important thing is no human energy required – means less sweaty, I do believe many people will start taking Telepod as one of their main option for commuting to nearby neighborhood area.
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