E-bike startup Wheels lays off staff as dockless micromobility struggles continue

Wheels, a Los Angeles-based startup that rents electric bikes in over a dozen cities, is laying off 6 percent of its staff, The Verge has learned. The company is the latest micromobility firm to shed employees in the quest to find a profitable business model.

Wheels was founded in early 2019 by Jonathan and Joshua Viner, brothers who also founded the popular dog-walking app Wag. Since its launch, Wheels has expanded to San Diego, Miami, Dallas, Austin, Scottsdale, Cleveland, Chicago, Tallahassee, Texas A&M, Orlando, and Salt Lake City, as well as Stockholm, Sweden.

Its electric-powered vehicle falls somewhere in between a bike and scooter, with no pedals, a seat, small but thick wheels, and a distinctive frame. The company has since...

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