Veo devices returned to campus; more device parking to come

With winter coming to an end, shared Veo electric scooters and bicycles returned to Purdue’s West Lafayette location Saturday (March 1).

“The return of Veo devices in the spring is an indicator that warmer weather is coming,” said Jessica Robertson, associate vice president for auxiliary services. “These devices are a convenience that allow people to get where they need to go without having to own their own bicycle or scooter, and they are heavily used by the campus community.”

And the data backs that up: In 2024, more than 26,600 unique campus customers completed more than 318,000 rides on Veo devices. Rides totaled nearly 3 million minutes, or approximately 47,000 hours.

“When those devices aren’t in use, they need somewhere to go. Several Administrative Operations departments are involved in providing parking infrastructure for scooters and bicycles, and we’re planning to invest in additional parking locations again this spring,” Robertson said. “Providing sufficient parking space encourages riders to be responsible and respectful of these shared devices.”

Weather permitting, two new concrete parking pads will be added to high-use areas of campus this month for Veo devices only. These will be located between the Physics Building and Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering and west of Loeb Fountain near Beering Hall of Liberal Arts and Education. In addition, more than 75 racks will be added throughout campus for use by any bicycle and electric or motor-powered vehicle (EMPV). Existing parking locations are shown on the map within the Veo app, which will be updated to reflect the new locations once they are available.

Also new this spring, West Lafayette Veo users will get instant feedback from AI technology about device parking. Users will continue to upload a photo of the device upon parking it in an approved location, and the parking assistant in the Veo app will confirm if it meets requirements or needs further adjusting before the user ends the ride.

“This enhancement helps keep campus accessible and pathways clear,” Robertson said. “Veo has been good about listening to our feedback and helping to provide and implement solutions.”  

With devices back on campus, the Purdue University Fire Department shared some steps users can take to keep themselves and fellow campus community members safe. 

“All of our firefighters are also trained as EMTs or paramedics, so we are involved if there’s a bicycle or scooter accident on campus,” Chief Brad Anderson said. “We encourage riders to slow down, pay attention to their surroundings and minimize distractions, and, of course, wear a helmet.”  

Riders can get $5 in free credit by applying promo code SPRING25 in the app through April 30. Subscriptions with discounted rides are available for frequent users. Individuals can learn more and sign up through the menu in the Veo app. As a reminder, bicycles and EMPVs are not to be parked or stored inside campus buildings. To inquire about storing one of these devices over an academic break, please contact Parking Operations at parking@purdue.edu. 

Auxiliary Services and the Purdue University Fire Department are both part of the Administrative Operations organization, which supports the university through safe, reliable and transformative services. Continuing to invest in alternative transportation parking and promoting the safe use of micromobility devices are just some of the ways the organization continues to power Purdue.