Bird (transportation company)

On the Bird app, the user can see the operating area of the service and also view a tutorial on how to use the scooter.[29] Riding outside of the operating area is tolerated, but if the user leaves the scooter outside the operating area, they will be charged a fee. The fee changes based on the location. On the map, there are various red zones, in which users are prohibited to park. If the rider misbehaves, they will incur a fine. Bird has worked with various cities to launch a 100-city tour to work closely with local officials on policies.[29]

While Bird doesn't have set operating hours, the availability of scooters during nighttime is severely reduced because the scooters need to be recharged every night. Nevertheless, if a user finds a scooter outside during the nighttime, they can still unlock it. Bird operates every day of the week.

Bird's revenue is lower during winter, and at the beginning of the warmer months, many scooters are taken out of hibernation, an operation internally known as the "Spring Push".[24]

Bird operates its electric scooters in cities across the globe.[30]

Bird scooters available in Long Beach, California in March 2023. Here Bird's scooters are located alongside those of Lime, one of the company's main competitors.

Bird uses electric scooters for its rental service.

Bird developed its own scooter, the Bird Zero, launched in October 2018. The Bird Zero was specifically made for the scooter rental industry, with a longer lifespan.[31] The Zero has been designed to be optimal for the ride-sharing industry to minimize maintenance needs. As of July 2019, Bird Zero scooters made up more than 75% of the company's fleets.[32]

In May 2019, Bird stopped purchasing and distributing both Segway models,[33] and launched Bird One, the first Bird scooter made available for purchase as well as shared use.[34] Improvements incorporated into this model include longer battery life (up to 30 miles on a single charge), a more responsive brake system, and better lighting and stability features.[35] According to the company, Bird Zero scooters have a lifespan of roughly ten months,[36] and Bird One scooters are designed to last over a year in the sharing environment.[37]

In June 2019, Bird unveiled the Bird Cruiser, an electric vehicle that is a blend between a bicycle and a moped. It seats up to two people and is designed to be part of Bird's shared-vehicles fleet.[38]

In August 2019, Bird launched Bird Two.[39] This model includes improvements to battery life (50% more capacity than Bird One), self-reporting damage sensors, higher traction and puncture-proof tires, as well as anti-tipping kickstands on both sides.[40]

In June 2021, Bird announced the deployment of shared Bird Bikes in North America and Europe.[41]

Generally, in countries where the Euro or the Dollar is used, the price is €/$1 to unlock the scooter, then €/$0.15 per minute. The monthly fee for renting a scooter is $25. However, prices for sharing and monthly rentals differ according to country, currency and local laws.

Bird scooters are charged by gig workers, private contractors who sign up to become Chargers. The company sends approved Chargers charging equipment and pays them to charge scooters overnight then place them at designated "nests" throughout the company's service area in the morning. Charging can become competitive, with Chargers in some markets using vans and other creative means to pick up scooters all over the city.[44]

The amount of money Bird pays the independent contractors for charging a particular scooter depends on how long the scooter has been sitting out on the street after being flagged for needing a charge and before the Charger reflags the scooter in an app to claim the reward.

Since Bird is a dockless electric scooter sharing system, it does not provide parking stations. As a result, scooters can be found throughout cities to help people connect to transit offerings and central locations.[45][46] However, Bird strongly encourages users to park responsibly curbside, at its stations or at bike racks.

In November 2018, Bird added a crowdsourced parking feature called "Community Mode" to its app. The feature enables users to report improperly parked scooters to Bird, which then sends staff to move them to better parking locations.[47]

In June 2019, Bird added a new feature for cities that agree to reclaim parking spaces for micro mobility. First rolled out in Paris, the app directs riders to close by approved parking spots and awards them a discount on their next ride if they park there.[48]

In select cities and countries, Bird has created specially designated parking spaces for Bird scooters. When available, users are strongly encouraged to park there.

When Bird began marketing its franchise opportunities to operations staff and fleet managers, it ended up putting some workers $40,000 in debt. Those franchisees never own the scooters they obtain from Bird and are liable for repayments even when scooters are lost or stolen.[52]

In March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and national shutdown, Bird laid off 400+ employees via Zoom during a call that lasted approximately two minutes. The company immediately locked out all affected employees from accessing company systems.[53][54][55]

Scooters were initially banned in Milwaukee when Bird Rides Inc. started their scooter business without government permission. Wisconsin's Governor Tony Evers signed a bill on July 11, 2019, regulating scooters.[56] The Milwaukee Common Council and Mayor Tom Barrett banned Bird Scooters from operating in the city and passed an ordinance giving law enforcement permission to impound scooters. They also sued the scooter company.[57]

In May 2019 Bird reached a settlement with the city of Milwaukee regarding the lawsuit.[58] The following August, Milwaukee's Department of Public Works announced it would allow Bird to operate in the city again.[59]

In August 2018, Bird, Lime and several other micro-mobility companies were banned by the City of  San Francisco, California citing safety concerns as the reason. The Municipal Transportation Agency then launched a pilot scooter sharing program allowing only Skip and Scoot to operate in the city.[60] Lime tried and failed to appeal the decision[61] and Bird began offering its scooters as a monthly rental as a way around their prohibition.

In September 2019, the city of San Francisco announced the four permit holders that would be able to operate. Operators were able to submit an application and the city down-selected based on several criteria, including safety. Bird, was one of the selected operators through its subsidiary Scoot.[62]

Seattle, Washington has banned scooter shares, and city law currently bars the use of motorized foot scooters on sidewalks and bicycle lanes.[63] Mayor Jenny Durkan announced in May 2019 that her administration would soon begin crafting a pilot program for scooter sharing.[64]

Bird electric scooters have been involved in some accidents and deaths.[65]

In November 2022, the company admitted to overstating the revenue it received from its shared electric scooters for more than two years. In an audit of financial statements, Bird found that it was recognizing unpaid customer rides from their preloaded "wallet" balances as revenue. The company pledged to correct its financial reports "as soon as practicable", and agreed that a broader review of its disclosure practices would be required.[66]