Bird scooters and e-bikes coming back to Green Bay streets in 2024

GREEN BAY - While Appleton is poised to cut ties with rideshare provider Bird, the company's electric scooters and bicycles will return to Green Bay next week.

Bird for the fourth straight year will provide micromobility services in Green Bay under a contract Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich is expected to sign next week. Once he does, Bird expects to quickly deploy its flock of electric scooters and e-bikes around Green Bay, said Steph Hummel, a Green Bay planner who manages the e-scooter and e-bike program for the city.

Appleton officials recently indicated they will likely cut ties with Bird, citing lingering safety, aesthetics and nuisance issues. In contrast, Hummel said Bird over the last three years equipped its e-scooters and e-bikes with features and technology that address many common complaints that arose during 2021, Bird's first year in the city. She also said the company's local fleet managers remain responsive and helpful.

"They've resolved a lot of issues," Hummel said. "We’re really lucky to have such a good local team. I think it’s why the local program runs so efficiently."

On Dec. 20, Bird filed for bankruptcy protection in a federal court in Florida, USA TODAY reported at the time. The company on April 5 said it emerged from bankruptcy proceedings under a newly formed parent company, Third Lane Mobility Inc. Third Lane Mobility also owns Spin, another electric scooter and bike-sharing company. Hummel said Bird's financial struggles have not impacted local operations.

Micromobility programs offer residents an alternative mode of transportation that reduces greenhouse emissions, improves health, reduces traffic congestion and eliminates barriers to transportation, like a need for insurance.

Green Bay users in the 2021 pilot season rode Bird vehicles 41,315 total miles. The total miles more than doubled in 2022 to 92,879 before dropping to 51,386 miles in 2023, according to data Bird provided the city.

From 2022 to 2023, the number of riders dropped from 13,081 to 6,650 and total rides dropped from 46,032 to 28,075.

Bird estimates that Green Bay riders who choose electric scooters and bikes over vehicles in 2022 and 2023 saved a a combined total of 20.2 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Getting started is pretty simple and straightforward, but there are a few details you should know as you use Bird vehicles in Green Bay.

Your will be charged a per-minute rate plus a $1 fee to unlock the Bird e-bike or e-scooter. Bird users can also buy a pass to use a vehicle for a set period of time, for example 24 hours, for a discounted rate. The cost will also include taxes and compliance fees.

Income-qualified people can also take advantage of 50% discounts Bird offers through its Community Pricing program.

If you misbehave, your ride can cost even more. Bird can bill you or deactivate your account if you damage a vehicle, try to park it in the Fox River, use the a scooter improperly or do not follow Bird's terms of use, Hummel said. The company has a "three strikes" policy for users.

One issue that continues to linger is parents letting their minor children use their identification to rent a Bird vehicle.

"We'd really like parents to stop letting their kids use their IDs," Hummel said. "You're supposed to be 18 to use them."

If you see a clear and obvious safety concern or issue with how someone is using a Bird vehicle, contact the Green Bay Police Department.

All other complaints, like a scooter parked in a poor spot or a damaged e-bike in your neighborhood, should be directed to Bird.

Contact Jeff Bollier at (920) 431-8387 [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @JeffBollier.