Safer, more practical and more environmentally friendly modes of transport
Tier Mobility is the European leader, with a presence in 16 countries and more than 140 towns and cities. It is also number one in France, with seven territories already conquered, including Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux and Grenoble. The start-up offers easily accessible and affordable mobility services thanks to its fleet of electric scooters, bikes and scooters. And there’s no question of going it alone! At Tier, we always work in collaboration with public and private organisations to adapt to the specific needs of each city.
In practical terms, Tier Mobility consists of a fleet of electric vehicles and an application that users download onto their smartphone to locate and unlock the nearest vehicle.
On a day-to-day basis, the vehicles are parked in compulsory parking zones that are strategically located to allow interconnection with public transport. With Tier, it’s impossible to abandon your scooter in the street, as is the case with other operators. Users are obliged to park in one of the zones, at the risk of continuing to pay the fare (15 cents per minute).
The company’s aim is twofold: to remain practical, by offering a service that is affordable, reliable and sustainable over time; and to be environmentally friendly, by reducing the use of cars in cities and, by the same token, cutting air pollution. Carbon-neutral since 2020, the start-up is locating its warehouses as close as possible to city centres to limit travel between parking areas and logistics hubs, using cargo bikes and vans, which are also electric.
But what sets Tier apart from its competitors is above all the reliability of its equipment. Renowned for their robustness, they have an average lifespan of 5 years. Tier is the only operator to incorporate a folding helmet into its scooters, which are equipped with indicators, a dual braking system and all-terrain wheels, ideal for plying our cobbled streets.
It is this safer package for users that was the most important differentiating criterion for Roubaix town council.
Tier Mobility1.5 million invested to network the city of Roubaix
As is often the case when it comes to deploying a new mobility offer in a given area, it is the town council that initiates the project. The town of Roubaix took advantage of the Mobility Orientation Act (LOM) to issue a call for tenders for the deployment of a fleet of electric scooters and bicycles in the area.
The operators then submitted their bids to the town hall, which defined a number of essential criteria, including user safety, social and environmental standards, and the quality of the service from an operational point of view. 9 applications later, Tier Mobility was chosen.
The choice of location depends on the wishes of the various regions. In Roubaix, there is an extensive network of cycle paths and the town was ready to host the infrastructure needed for a service like ours. For each new location, we take into account the local issues, which sets us apart from our American competitors.
With a large population and a significant proportion of students, the city has long been a target for the brand.
In Roubaix, a fleet of 500 scooters and 100 electric bikes has just been deployed. More than 200 parking zones are dotted around the city, with a very high density in the hypercentre. To enhance the safety of other users of the public space, vehicles are limited to 20km/h on the roads and 6km/h in pedestrian areas such as the Grand-Place. Some of the city’s green spaces are off-limits, such as Parc Barbieux and the banks of the Roubaix Canal.
It should be noted that Tier Mobility is offering a special deal for students in Roubaix, providing them with 50 unlockings per term. This is in line with the company’s CSR policy and its desire to offer its services to those on the lowest incomes.
To manage its fleet, the company has set up its operations centre in the city centre, in a warehouse of around 800m2. Repairs, recharging, repatriation and any equipment deployment will be carried out there. A dozen permanent jobs have been created for the launch of the business, and the start-up hopes to continue its development in the Roubaix metropolis and establish itself in Roubaix for the long term.
The city of Roubaix is extremely involved in the collaboration and we exchange information on a daily basis about the progress of operations. It’s great to be working with towns that are delighted to be developing new activities. We hope this will continue for a long time to come.
