In the world of public transportation, the first and the last miles are the hardest to overcome. Hopping on the bus or train to get to San Jose isn’t the hard part. Getting to public transportation, parking, and then getting from the bus or train to work can be a hassle. By way of Estonia comes Stigo, a lightweight, foldable, electric bike/scooter offering a solution to the problem for commuters here in Morgan Hill.
Ain Indermitte, like the Stigo bike itself, is from Estonia. For the past 12 years, he’s made the commute by train from Morgan Hill to Sunnyvale, usually with the aid of a bike or electric scooter. Indermitte has turned his enthusiasm for the bike in to a part-time sales job, where he promotes Stigos on a bike-to-bike basis.
“I’ve always been interested in that last mile of commuting,” Indermitte said.
The Stigo Bike is minimalistic, with sleek lines and design. The bike is fully motorized and reaches up to 15 mph. The basic Stigo can go 12 miles on a single charge and weighs 31 pounds. What makes it stand out is that it folds up, much like a suitcase. Because it folds, storage is much easier, and with wheels, you can pull the Stigo like a suitcase.
Aside from the standard Stigo, Stigo Plus has an extra battery and can go 24 miles compared to 12. With the additional battery, Stigo Plus weighs 33.7 pounds.
The Stigo costs $1,400, while the Stigo Plus sells for $1,650.
“You pay a premium for the bike because you pay for the design and fold-ability,” Indermitte said.
Folding and deploying the Stigo takes a few seconds. By pulling a tap on the seat, the Stigo pulls upright and locks in place. To use, the rider unlocks the Stigo, and by pressing on the foot peg, it locks into place, and it’s ready to ride again.
“The target market is commuters, but another big customer could be RV owners or RV shops who’d rent the Stigo,” Indermitte said. “You can use them to go to the store, they’re great for boaters, and I’ve known people who take them on airplanes.”
The rider activates the Stigo with a key fob, and once enabled, the bike’s headlight and digital speedometer turn on and the Stigo is ready to ride.
Renee Carrillo was turned on to Stigo during a chance meeting with Indermitte at the AMGEN Tour of California. For her, making a connection between Morgan Hill and Estonia is a way to help build a worldwide community.
“When he told me it was made in Estonia, he said it with such pride,” Carrillo said. “One of my missions for this coffee shop is not only to serve this community, but the community that encompasses the world.”
Carrillo has a Stigo on display in the side window at GVA Café, and interested customers can come by, take a look and buy a Stigo of their own.
“The response has been great,” Carrillo said. “It’s a little expensive, but in the long term, it pays for itself. It can be charged in a regular outlet, it’s versatile, and since it can fold, you won’t be turned away from the bus.”
Check out Stigo at http://kukara.com/stigo and use the keyword AIN at checkout for a $100 discount.
