BIRD Scooters have arrived in Whitewater. You may see some electric scooters as you travel around town. These scooters are here for people to use to get around the community. We hope safety continues to stay top priority with this new transportation option!
1. Download the BIRD app to find a scooter or to use one.
2. Enter a payment method if your first time using the app.
3. Follow the prompts in the app to scan the code on the BIRD scooter, take a photo of the scooter and to activate it.
4. Ride to your destination in town following the rules of the road- Be sure to ride your scooter in the streets, ride in bike lanes when available, ride on the right side of the road, obey rules including stop signs, crosswalks, stop lights, etc. and only drive at 15 mph max.
5. When you reach your destination, park your scooter (not in the street or the sidewalk but along the sidewalk and grass or the red brick area between the sidewalk and road and at bike racks when possible), scan the scooter code in the app, take a picture of the parked scooter and pay for your ride. If you move the scooter when you don’t scan and pay for it, the scooter will alarm and be disabled. If you do not scan it after your ride, you will be charged from BIRD.
Those who use the scooter are responsible for the scooter.
Riders must be 18 years to ride and are strongly encouraged to wear a helmet.
If you see an issue with a scooter- you can touch the hazard button in the BIRD app to contact the company directly).
Bird Scooters are in the City of Whitewater on a year trial at no cost to the city and we are excited to give residents and visitors an additional mode of transportation if they choose to use it. We encourage safety for all citizens on foot, scooter, bike, car, etc. Please continue safe practices in all you do!
If a resident has questions or concerns about the e-scooters the company can be reached directly at 1-866-205-2442 or hello@bird.co. More information about the company can be found on their website www.bird.co and on their blog www.bird.co/blog.
- Scooters are unlocked using an app, with a cost of $1 to unlock and 39 cents per minute.
- Just because you see a scooter sitting somewhere doesn’t mean it’s been abandoned. They have no docking stations, and may be left most anywhere in the community other than on private property, and as long as they are left in the upright position and not blocking a sidewalk, driveway, etc. A Bird rep picks many of them up overnight, charges them as needed, and repositions them for the next day’s use.
- UW-W is not currently permitting the scooters on campus.
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Previous Banner posts:
Update: Michael Cavato of Bird told the Banner that the cost for using the scooters will be $1 to unlock and 39 cents per minute. He stated, “Given the geographic size and layout of Whitewater, this means that scooters can be an extremely affordable, quick, environmentally friendly, and fun way to navigate the area. In addition, we frequently put out various promotions that we hope our riders keep an eye out for in the app to receive discounts.” Also note that shown below is reduced pricing for riders with certain qualifications.
The City of Whitewater is partnering with shared electric scooter company, Bird Rides to bring e-scooters to the city on a one-year pilot program contract. The scooters are available beginning July 6th through a mobile phone application and riders pay to use the scooter per minute, at no cost to the city.
“We are happy to welcome Bird to the City of Whitewater. We look forward to having the scooters available for all residents and visitors to get around town and think it will be a nice addition to the community,” said Cameron Clapper, Whitewater City Manager.
The company plans on offering scooters to help reduce carbon emissions, as well as traffic congestion on
roadways. The scooters also offer residents without automobiles another transportation option.
The electric scooters can be used on roads and in bike lanes with a maximum speed of 15 mph. Scooters must
be parked out of the way of pedestrians and never blocking driveways. Riders are required to be 18 years or
older to access the scooters. They are also encouraged to wear a helmet on every ride and required to obey all
standard rules of the road.
To use the scooters, a renter will download the Bird app to their phone and create an account they will use for
each ride. Using the map in the Bird app, riders will find the closest Bird. It can be reserved up to 30 minutes in
advance. To start the ride, the renter will scan the Bird’s QR code with the app, hit the throttle on the right to go
and pull the brakes to slow. After the ride, renters will use the kickstand to keep the Bird upright and park it
away from public pathways in an approved parking spot found in the app. The rider will submit a picture of the
scooter to ensure the ride is complete and the scooter is parked.
Riders will be able to use the Community Mode allowing anyone with a Bird account to report or provide feedback on vehicle-related issues such as poorly parked or damaged vehicles in their area. Riders will be asked to provide the Bird ID number and the specific issue they are experiencing, then a Bird team member will be assigned to correct the issue. Community Mode can be accessed by tapping the yield sign on the bottom left of the Bird map.
Bird advises riders to check the app for the most up-to-date vehicle charge information, service area locations, and pricing.
For more details on how to use a Bird scooter, visit https://www.bird.co/blog/how-to-bird- beginners-guide-shared-scooter-riding/.
“Having an additional option for transportation will be very helpful for many residents,” said Clapper. “This will
also be a nice option for those who are visiting the city and want a new way of getting around and enjoying
what our city has to offer.”
Bird offers the following programs that are available for all who qualify:
● Community Pricing- Bird’s Community Pricing Program offers a 50% discount to low-income riders, Pell grant recipients, select local nonprofit and community organizations, veterans, and senior citizens. It’s designed to be the most inclusive micro mobility discount program available anywhere. To sign up for the Community Pricing Program, download the Bird app, create an account, and email your proof of eligibility to access@bird.co. Visit https://www.bird.co/blog/need-know-bird-expanded-community- pricing-program/ for more details.
● Free Rides for Healthcare Workers and Emergency Personnel- Bird is proud to offer free rides to healthcare workers and emergency personnel. To sign up, simply email a copy of your medical identification card along with your name and phone number to together@bird.co. Eligible riders will receive two free 30-minute rides per day for as long as it takes to help our communities to recover from this global health crisis. Visit https://www.bird.co/blog/bird-providing-free-mobility-healthcare-workers- crisis/ for details.
https://www.bird.co/es/contact-us/.
For questions or concerns about the e-scooters, the company can be reached directly at 1-866-205-2442, by email hello@bird.co and social media platforms listed on their contact page https://www.bird.co/es/contact-us/. More information about the company can be found on their website www.bird.co and on their blog www.bird.co/blog.
Source: City of Whitewater press release
