Revel, the company that first brought its Vespa-like shared electric “moped” to the District in 2019, is now leaving the city.

In an email to riders, the company said it would stop operation on Nov. 22, but didn’t cite a reason.

“This was a really hard decision for us to make and we are so grateful for riders like you,” CEO Frank Reig said in the email.

A spokesperson said it was solely a business decision as the company is focusing on growing its all-electric rideshare service (currently only in New York City) and its public fast EV charging network.

The moped vehicles will still be available in New York City and San Francisco. Revel said ride credits not used by the 22nd will be good in the remaining cities.

Back in April 2021, Lime said it would bring 600 of the same type of vehicle, but it discontinued the service this past winter to focus on the more lucrative e-scooter business, a spokesperson said.

The departures leave D.C. without a shared “motor-driven cycle” operator for the first time since the District Department of Transportation launched a pilot program back in 2019. The vehicles could go up to 30 mph, required a helmet, and were banned from highways.

“DDOT recognizes the importance of vehicle sharing to create equitable transportation access across the District and reduce reliance on single-occupant vehicles,” the agency said at the time on its website. “The goal of this pilot program is to explore a new alternative to vehicle ownership, decrease congestion and reduce transportation-based emissions.”

Each company was allowed up to 800 vehicles. The District has undergone several changes to its permitting process since micromobility companies first came to D.C. about five years ago. Numerous shared bike, e-scooter, and other micromobility companies have come and gone during that time.

DDOT  did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Riders said the Revel vehicles were plentiful and convenient and a good option that was usually cheaper than a ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft. They cost $1 to unlock,  50-cents for insurance, plus 44 cents a minute. You could also buy half-hour, hour, and daily passes.

We gave the vehicles a whirl when they first arrived in 2019. They came with somewhat more of a learning curve than e-bikes and e-scooters, and that may have limited widespread adoption. The company offered free lessons early on. There was also public concern about the safety of allowing motorcycle-like driving without the requirement for a motorcycle license. Statistics about moped crashes aren’t readily available, but three people were killed on the Revel moped in New York and a D.C. resident was killed in a crash while he was on the vehicle and being chased by police.