(This is an April Fools prank!)
Following its recent USD 93M Series B fundraising round, leading micromobility company Beam will bring a new fleet offering to cities across Australia and New Zealand.
From today, Beam will introduce a range of equine-based mobility options starting in six cities across ANZ. The service will initially commence with a shared donkey service, with plans to expand into larger horses following data from the new trial.
The donkeys will be available for hire within the Beam app, and available to use within Beam’s existing operational areas.
Every donkey will be equipped with a helmet and bell, with the donkeys trained in pedestrian detection and precision geofencing.
Comprehensive rider insurance will be included with every trip.
With Beam committed to low-emissions travel and encouraging the switch to more eco-friendly transport options, the new fleet contributes to Beam’s pledge to go Carbon Negative by 2025, with plans to work with local councils to identify opportunities to use donkey ‘emissions’ as fertiliser in local sustainable gardening projects.
A Beam spokesperson said “Henry Ford once famously said, ‘If I had asked my customers what they wanted they would have said a faster horse’, which formed the key insight behind Beam’s new fleet expansion.
“We are excited to commence this trial initially in Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide, Auckland and Wellington, but look forward to expanding further to our regional operations after a review of the usage data.
“We anticipate the service to be particularly attractive to busy commuters keen to avoid road congestion during the weekday peak hours, as well as on weekends for leisure rides.
“The safety of the rider and non-rider community is of utmost importance to us, and our new donkey fleet comes with the industry-leading safety technologies that Beam is known for.
“All our donkeys are trained in pedestrian detection and collision prevention, and are able to identify the difference between roads, bike lanes and footpaths, following the state legislation depending on the cities they operate in.
“And of course, helmets will be provided for all riders.
“We look forward to engaging in discussions around the safe operation of donkeys to ensure the safety of both riders, pedestrians and other road users.”
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