Alternative Transportation A man rides a VEO E-Bike on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com))
The greater Syracuse area is a car-centric region. But it’s not the only way to get around, particularly in the city.
If you don’t have access to a car, don’t drive, or are evaluating the environmental impact of car travel, what are the alternatives?
Your options include:
• Public transportation (buses)
• Ride hailing (Lyft and Uber)
• Micromobility (light, low-speed e-bikes and electric scooters)
• Active transportation (walking, biking, skating).
On warmer days, bikes, skates and electric transit devices are especially useful.
Here’s everything you need to know about renting and using e-bikes and electric scooters around Syracuse and beyond.
Alternative Transportation A man rides a VEO E-Bike on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) Shared electric scooters and bikes
Veo has offered electric bike and scooter rentals within the Syracuse city limits since 2021, and the geofenced boundaries where the vehicles can be used have expanded a bit since then.
Users can now ride within the city limits, parts of East Syracuse, a section of Onondaga Hill that includes Onondaga Community College’s campus, and over to the Inner Harbor and Destiny USA.
The expanded service has paid off. Ridership started strong and has continued to grow year over year, said Candice Xie, the co-founder and CEO of Veo, in a joint release with the City of Syracuse.
Currently more than 30,000 Veo users are registered in Syracuse and there were 648,000 rides last year.
There are about 345 Astro stand-up e-scooters and 1,100 Cosmo-e Class 2 e-bikes in the city.
Veo bike Syracuse.com sports reporter Donna Ditota rides a Veo e-bike in Syracuse in 2022. (Norman Trimble/N. Scott Trimble) How much it costs
The median cost per ride in 2025 was $2.74, according to Veo.
The vehicles can connect to Bluetooth for music and maps. The Veo mobile app facilitates the entire process, so a strong internet and Bluetooth connection are needed.
It currently costs $1 to unlock a vehicle and $0.33 per minute for scooter use or $0.36 per minute for bike use.
As part of an effort to increase equity, users ending a ride in an “opportunity zone” — a historically under-resourced neighborhood — will have their $1 unlock fee waived. Eligible neighborhoods are Brighton, Eastwood, Far Westside, Near Westside, Northside, Outer Comstock, Salt Springs and Skunk City. This program in collaboration with the city saved more than $130,000 for riders last year, said Paige Miller, senior manager of policy & communications for Veo.
Syracuse Sync New Veo scooters and bikes are lined up and ready to rent at a station near Westcott Street and Harvard Place. Photo courtesy of city of Syracuse. (Courtesy)
There is also a Veo Access program, available to people on SNAP, Medicaid and other programs for low-income individuals, which offers a 39-44% discount depending on vehicle type.
Veo employs a team of fleet technicians who travel the area each day to swap out depleted batteries for fully charged ones, make sure vehicles are properly parked and rebalance vehicles, which means replenishing the amount in parts of town with high demand.
During the winter months, the fleet fully winterizes. The full fleet season is March to November.
Veo communicates ridership data to the city monthly and uses that information along with community feedback and city input to determine the best geofences for each location, Miller said.
How to ride
Download the Veo app, set up an account and add a payment method in the wallet section. The in-app map will help you find the nearest bike or scooter.
When you select the vehicle you want, the app will display the cost, the battery charge percentage and about how many miles that charge will get you.
No Ride and No Parking Zones will be visible on the map when you click on an available vehicle. The vehicle will automatically stop if you try to enter these restricted areas.
Once you’ve located the vehicle, use the app to scan the QR code between the handlebars to unlock it. For the bike, release the kickstand and sit on the bike.
Start pushing the pedals forward to ride, the battery will assist you in pedaling or you can use the throttle to ride without pedaling. With the scooter, push it forward with your foot and press down the throttle button, marked ‘Go,’ to start riding.
New riders can enable the training mode in the app to stay at a reduced speed (capped at 8 mph) and see riding and parking tips; in normal mode the scooters and bikes can go up to 15 mph.
Electric scooters and e-bikes are not allowed on sidewalks. Riders must obey traffic rules, ride with the flow of traffic and are encouraged to ride in the bike lane if there is one.
Veo use is for riders 18 and older. While not mandatory, helmets are highly recommended.
Veo scooter Syracuse.com reporter Anne Hayes rides a Veo scooter in 2022. (N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.com/N. Scott Trimble) Parking your scooter or e-bike
When you reach your destination, park responsibly. If you’re in an area deemed safe to park, keep your bike or scooter upright and don’t block ramps or sidewalks.
There are three different parking zones: mandatory, free floating and discount. Generally, riders in Syracuse can end their ride almost anywhere within the service area, with a few exceptions.
To end a ride, users must tap the “take photo” button and submit a photo of the properly parked vehicle. The photo is evaluated for compliance by an AI system. Being able to see a trip summary will indicate that the ride has been ended properly.
You will not be able to end a ride if the vehicle is blocking the sidewalk, if the area is a No Parking Zone or if you’re at the wrong place in a Mandatory Parking Zone.
If a sidewalk is narrow, Veo recommends finding a nearby hub to park, if possible, to maintain accessibility.
There are a few “mandatory areas,” particularly around Syracuse University. In these sections, a rider must end at a set parking hub within the zone’s boundary that usually includes some type of parking infrastructure. In-app resources and a voice-assisted parking function help guide riders on the parking requirements.
Snow in Syracuse Rentable scooters and bikes from the Syracuse Veo program were buried after a substantial snowfall overnight. Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (Katrina Tulloch | ktulloch@syracuse.com) (Katrina Tulloch)
The blue Ps on the app’s map typically indicate the presence of a bike rack or dedicated micromobility parking. There are discount parking areas that waive the unlock fee if a ride is ended there.
There are fines for improper parking or usage, and if you park outside of the service area, there will be a retrieval fee that can range from $15-$120 depending on distance.
No matter where you park, the vehicle becomes eligible for another person to rent after your ride is finished.
Accepted payment methods are credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and VeoCash, a prepaid wallet.
If you’ll be a frequent rider, consider the VeoPlus monthly or weekly subscription which offers discounted rides. Riders can also purchase Ride Passes which offer discounted, prepaid ride minutes.
For more information and to download the app, visit veoride.com/syracuse.
What’s coming
The City of Syracuse and Veo are adding cargo baskets on the Cosmo-e bikes to make tasks like grocery shopping more convenient. Additional community education and outreach will aim to improve accessibility and prevent underage riding.
Christine Dunne contributed to this article.
Check back tomorrow for a full guide to ride-sharing in Syracuse.
Alternative Transportation People board the Centro bus on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation The Centro Bus on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) Alternative Transportation A man rides a VEO E-Bike on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation Someone gets on a Centro bus on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation A man rides his bike on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation The Centro Bus on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation A Centro bus stop on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) Alternative Transportation A man rides a VEO E-Bike on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation A bike lane on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation People flag down a Centro bus on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation The Centro Bus on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)) 
Alternative Transportation A man rides his bike on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in downtown Syracuse, N.Y. (Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com) ((Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com)/(Chloe Trofatter | ctrofatter@syracuse.com))