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This article was written in cooperation with BeRider. Read more about our partner content policies here.
Special offer! Use the code “expatscz” when registering in the BeRider app to receive 30 free minutes to use the electric scooters in Prague. Valid through the end of August, 2020.
Shared transportation has seen a big boom in Prague across recent years, with riders able to rent an e-scooter or e-bike with a few taps on a smartphone app. Shared bikes and scooters are often a cheaper and quicker means of transportation in a big city than public transport or even cars, with the added bonus of not having to search for a coveted parking spot.
Now might be a perfect time to try out a shared e-scooter — and not only because the summer months are a prime opportunity to try out an open-air ride. The personal vehicles also enable riders to practice social distancing recommendations in a COVID-19 world.
There are now three options for shared e-scooters on the streets of Prague: Re.volt, Blinkee, and BeRider. We tried three to determine which one offers the fastest way to get around Prague.
BeRider, the latest e-scooter concept to hit the streets of Prague, is a local project: developed by Czech innovation center ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab, they began to appear across the Czech capital earlier this year. Now, BeRider operates the largest fleet of its kind in Prague.
Unlike the kick scooters and shared bicycles that have clogged Prague’s sidewalks in recent years, BeRider’s electric scooters operate within the city’s existing vehicle infrastructure and don’t interfere with pedestrians whether in use or while parked. And because they can be parked perpendicular to the sidewalk, parking is never a problem to find.
BeRider’s scooters can be easily rented through a free smartphone app on the App Store or Google Play, and come equipped with a pair of helmets in the tail box. The large seating area makes the scooters ideal for two passengers, while other shared scooters in Prague can only fit one.
Never ridden a scooter before? Don’t worry: BeRider’s app is designed with first-time riders in mind, with special instructions for those who have never ridden a scooter or motorcycle before. Riders only need to have a valid license to drive in the Czech Republic and comply with the traffic laws in Prague.
Available scooters can be located through the BeRider app (or just spotted on the streets of Prague) and reserved for 15 minutes for free. Riders have a free minute to get adjusted to the scooter before the pricing kicks in. A default tariff runs 5 crowns per minute (1 crown when paused), and prepaid packages of minutes can be purchased that lower that tariff by up to 42%, to 2.9 crowns per minute (.58 crowns while paused).
Each scooter also comes equipped with a smartphone holder, and the BeRider app displays a map that outlines areas where the scooter can be parked. If you have a USB cable, you can even charge your phone through the scooter.
First-time riders can get an overview of what do to before, during, and after the ride here, and a full English-language FAQ that answers all other questions can be found here.
And if you’re not a fan of wearing a shared helmet, you can even buy your own: packages of helmets, driving gloves, and 100 free minutes on BeRider scooters can be purchased from the BeRider website starting from 1,970 crowns; helmets alone start from 1,190 crowns.
While all three e-scooters on the market offer open-air summer rides that provide a social distancing advantage over other forms of transport, we tried out each to see give you a clear idea of the advantages and disadvantages of the e-scooter services available on Prague:
| Re.volt Pros | Re.volt Cons |
|---|---|
| Loyalty program (10% discount) | 45 km/h maximum speed |
| 50% discount on return rides | Smaller scooters (hard to fit two people) |
| 10-minute free reservation | Minimum price per ride (45 crowns) |
| Capped daily price (325 crowns) | Unlocking fee (25 crowns) |
| More types of vehicles available (cars, motorcyles) | Limited support line (9-5 on weekdays) |
| Blinkee Pros | Blinkee Cons |
|---|---|
| First minute of ride for free (for helmet and preparation) | 45 km/h maximum speed |
| Large saddle easily seats two | App not fully English-friendly |
| Capped daily price (500 crowns) | Payments processed in Polish złoty, not Czech crowns |
| Kickstands on both sides of scooter | Heavier scooter |
| Sensitive gas pedal - not the best for beginners |
| BeRider Pros | BeRider Cons |
|---|---|
| Highest maximum speed (66 km/h) | No maximum price per day |
| Largest number of scooters in fleet | Seat is harder, may be less comfortable for some |
| First minute of ride (for helmet and preparation) | Zone covers smaller area |
| Large saddle comfortably seat two people | |
| Larger wheels, easier over bumps and curves | |
| Long customer service line (7 a.m. - 9 p.m., all week long) | |
| 15-minute free reservation |
ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab’s BeRider scooters boast a few key advantages over their competitors. There’s no minimum charge for unlocking the scooter, ensuring that you only pay for the amount of time you use the scooter, no matter how small. BeRider also has the least expensive waiting times, at down to just half a crown per minute.
Perhaps best of all: BeRider’s maximum speed of 66 kilometers per hour is a considerable uptick over others on the market, which cap out at around 45 kilometers per hour.
Given the scooter’s ease-of-use over cars down the Czech capital’s narrow streets and maximum speeds in the city center, that might make BeRider the fastest way to get around Prague.
Before you ride, find out everything you need to know about ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab’s BeRider e-scooters via the official website.
Special offer! Use the code “expatscz” when registering in the BeRider app to receive 30 free minutes to use the electric scooters in Prague. Valid through the end of August 2020.
