People who need some help getting around town can do so via the Veo bikes and scooters. Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens announced Tuesday that the fleet is back on Syracuse streets.
The rental transportation, activated through a hone app, is more than just casual or fun. A rider survey showed around 66% of riders do not have a car, and mor than 50% used the Veo bikes and scooters to connect with public transportation.
Owens connected the program to larger city initiatives on safe mobility and reducing emissions from transportation, saying “... programs like Veo give residents additional ways to get to where they need to go. Shared e-bikes and scooters help people connect to work, school, and public transit while supporting safer and more sustainable travel in our city."
City residents who responded to a WAER social media query generally think the bikes and scooters are positive. "With Syracuse public transport otherwise pretty spotty, they play a really important role in facilitating mobility in the city and I love to see how widely adopted they are," said one resident. Another shared a time when they used one to pick up a car that had been serviced, ". I didn’t have to inconvenience anyone to drive me or wait around for a ride." Some also mentioned the positive of clean transportation as well as making bicycling safer, with more two-wheeled bicycles on the roads.
However, several people took issue with the practice of riders leaving the vehicles blocking sidewalks and driveways. "They are the city tumbleweeds of the 2020's. While I see the potential good they can offer, the inability of the users to leave them responsibly parked after the use is the problem," said one commenter.
The city reports ridership grew by 24% in 2025, with more than 640,000 rides. In 2026, some of the vehicles will have baskets to help with shopping and other tasks.
Veo Syracuse has its own webpage with information an safe driving tips. Syracuse residents can also directly email syrops@veoride.com with any questions or concerns.
