Tag: #BIRD

Bird and Drinkaware Team Up To Prevent ‘Drink Riding’ #escooters

Bird, a leader in micro-mobility, and Drinkaware, the national charity working to prevent alcohol misuse in Ireland, today announced plans to roll out  a public awareness campaign as soon e-scooters are legalised for use on public roads by the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021. The Bill is currently making its way through the Oireachtas, and according to the Government’s recent Sustainable Mobility Strategy*, will be in place by the end of this year. The campaign will aim to encourage the Irish public to adopt a safety-first approach to riding e-bikes and e-scooters, and will complement the draft legislation, which sets out fines of up to €2,000 for the consumption of alcohol while using such vehicles.

Campaign imagery encouraging safe riding will soon be visible in cities and towns across Ireland. In conjunction with this, Bird plans to roll-out its Safe Start feature as soon as it launches services in Ireland. This in-app ‘checkpoint’ is designed to discourage people from riding under the influence and is already used by its riders all over the world. Between the hours of 10pm and 4am, riders attempting to unlock a Bird e-scooter or e-bike will be asked to verify that they can safely handle the vehicle by correctly entering a keyword into the app. 

International data attests to the popularity and safety of e-scooters and e-bikes, and continues to  show that cars remain the biggest threat to Irish road users, with a documented incident rate of 1 in 20,000 trips. Bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters have a documented incident rate involving medical treatment of less than 1 in 50,000 trips*, but research shows that up to 30% of all cyclist accidents involve alcohol.* Bird and Drinkaware will therefore be campaigning to ensure that the public understands the dangers of using any form of micro-mobility while under the influence of alcohol. 

In the meantime, Bird and Drinkaware are urging e-bike riders to avoid riding while under the influence this May Bank Holiday. Any alcohol impairs judgement, making users physically unsteady and impeding their reaction times. 

Victoria Springthorpe, Head of Ireland and UK Public Policy at Bird: “Safety is always our no.1 priority and so we’re thrilled to partner with Drinkaware, a leading voice on road safety in Ireland, to educate and prepare people ahead of the legalisation of e-scooters. Sometimes it’s just a case of simply reminding people of the risks, to prevent an unsafe situation.” 

Sheena Horgan, CEO of Drinkaware: “Drinkaware welcomes the opportunity to partner with Bird on a campaign that ensures public safety and an understanding of the risks of drink riding. From our interactions with the public we know that there is high demand for information on drink driving, and our webpage on drink driving is consistently in the top 5 pages viewed on drinkaware.ie. New forms of transport are entering our country and we need to ensure that the public are aware of how to use these forms of transport safely and responsibly. The Department of Transport’s draft legislation sets out fines of up to €2,000 for the consumption of alcohol while using e-bikes and e-scooters.  As with other policies regarding other modes of transport, the efficacy of the legislation can be boosted by a supportive public education campaign.” 

This is the second safety initiative launched by Bird this year, after the company announced a partnership in January with the Irish School of Excellence, Ireland’s largest driver education programme, to establish Ireland’s first E-scooter Safety course. This course is set to be rolled out across Ireland when the Roads Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 becomes law. Covering almost 80% of schools nationally, it will have a wide reach and provide pupils with an overview of the law governing e-scooters; a guide on how to ensure pedestrian safety while using e-scooters; tuition on starting and moving off safely, as well as a tutorial on how to park safely.

Bird’s Opening Statement to the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications

Bird is a last-mile electric vehicle company dedicated to bringing affordable, environmentally friendly, and safe transportation to cities and towns across the world. 

Now trusted to operate in over 350 markets – half of which are in Europe – we provide shared micromobility programs through our electric scooter and electric bike partnerships with local authorities. Shared micromobility helps communities strengthen the local economy, alleviate traffic and parking congestion, reduce harmful emissions, and enhance transit access and first/last mile connectivity. 

Bird is one of the few shared micromobility companies to research, develop, design and manufacture our own scooters. Our team of former automobile and aerospace engineers build to strict vehicle standards using components, systems and testing processes from electric cars. Our goal is to create the safest and most sustainable vehicles in the industry, which are built to last in all environments. 

Last November, Bird became the first major micromobility company to list on the New York Stock Exchange, with a valuation of over $2.3bn. The significant capital raised ahead of the public listing ensures Bird will continue to drive innovation . Introducing our industry-leading micro-EV’s to Ireland is a top priority for us. 

As the category creator operating in more cities than any other company, we have a wealth of data and experience in places large and small. We understand how to partner with Governments and local Councils to help them achieve their own goals – in particular making their towns and cities more livable. 

We applaud the progress the Irish government, and in particular Minister Ryan and Minister Naughton, have made in the creation of a new category of Powered Personal Transport, through which electric scooters will be legalised on Irish roads. In particular, we believe that the specifications set out in the legislation – with a maximum speed of 25 km/hr and a maximum weight of 55 kg – are appropriate to ensure electric scooters are a viable alternative to private car use. 

Furthermore, we welcome the statement from Ministers Ryan and Naughton last week that the proposed maximum power rating of 250W for electric scooters could be adjusted through secondary legislation to account for technological developments as well as their safe and efficient use across hilly terrain. 

We are encouraged by the fact that Minister Ryan has proposed outlawing the use of electric scooters on footpaths. Our view is that electric scooters, like bikes in Ireland, belong on the road or in the cyclelane, and that local councils should decide, in partnership with their preferred shared scheme providers, specific areas of the Council in which their use should be encouraged or restricted. 

As an organization, our number one priority is safety, from a vehicle, from a rider, and from a general public perspective. We therefore welcome the strict prohibition and appropriate sanctions against the consumption of alcohol while operating an electric scooter. And, while helmets and high-visibility clothing should not be made mandatory through the legislation due to the impact it would have on modal shift, it is essential that we educate the public on the importance of using such protective equipment. 

That is why Bird recently announced a first-of-its-kind partnership in Ireland with the launch of our E-Scooter Safety School. The partnership with the Irish School of Excellence – Ireland’s largest youth driving school – will see 80% of all secondary schools in Ireland have access to best-in-class e-scooter safety training for those 16 and older. 

Our E-Scooter Safety School will launch as soon as legislation is passed, and will be available in every county and indeed constituency across the country, teaching participants essential safety requirements such as: the rules of the road, how to park properly, how to ride safely and how to interact with other road users, including those

who are more vulnerable. Bird would be delighted to extend an invitation to all members of this Committee to attend such a safety course in a school in their  locality, or alternatively to set-up a demo of this course for Committee members. 

In summary, we are thrilled by the potential Ireland holds for the uptake of shared micromobility. While Ireland remains heavily reliant on the car as the primary mode of transport, even for journeys under 2km, we believe that this legislation could be the dawn of a new era of sustainable travel across the country, complementing existing and planned infrastructure. 

Studies have shown electric scooters could help us reduce emissions from energy consumption by 68% by 2030, which is in line with the Irish Government’s goals of reducing emission from transport by 42-50% set forth in the Climate Action Plan 2021. Ireland is in a unique situation whereby the current date of adoption of this new transport mode allows you, Committee members, to take learnings from mature markets across the world. There can be no one-size-fits all approach, and so we warmly welcome the invitation from the Committee today to share our learnings from our 350 markets, and offer our views on what constitutes best-practices, so that the Committee can develop a bespoke set of rules for Personal Powered Transporter users domestically. 

Bird and Irish School of Excellence team up to roll-out Ireland’s first E-scooter safety course

Bird, a leader in environmentally friendly electric transportation, and the Irish School of Excellence (ISOE) today announced the launch of Ireland’s first e-scooter safety course. The first-of-its-kind programme in Ireland is designed to educate transition year, Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA), Youthreach and after school students  on safe and responsible riding practises for the use of shared e-scooters. 

The ISOE is Ireland’s largest driver education programme, working with over 570 secondary schools nationwide.  Covering almost 80% of schools nationally, the ISOE and Bird will roll out Ireland’s first e-scooter safety course as soon as legislation governing their use is passed. The as the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 makes it way through the Oireachtas to allow for e-scooters on Irish roads, and ahead of Councils throughout Ireland beginning licensing processes this year. 

Once e-scooters are legalised in Ireland, Bird’s ‘E-scooter Safety Course,’ module  will serve as part of the Irish School of Excellence’s existing ‘Driver Education Course’. The course is used to encourage young people to adopt a safety-led approach to driving, and is available to Leaving Cert pupils preparing to take driving lessons, as cars and micro mobility devices increasingly share the road. The pioneering ‘E-scooter Safety Module’ will provide pupils with an overview of the law governing e-scooters; a guide on how to ensure pedestrian safety while using e-scooters; tuition on starting and moving off safely, as well as a tutorial on how to park safely. 

Kieran O’Brien, CEO and founder of Irish School of Excellence said: “As our transport network evolves to embrace more sustainable travel options such as shared e-scooter schemes, so too should driving education. It has been heartening to witness first hand Bird’s proactivity in this space. Together we have devised a course that will equip young people across Ireland with the education necessary to use e-scooters safely on Irish roads.” 

Charlotte Bailey, General Manager for UK and Ireland at Bird said: “Safety is of paramount importance to Bird. As Ireland prepares to embrace shared e-scooter schemes, it is essential that the public is educated on how to use e-scooters safely. Bird is proud to work with Irish School of Excellence, an organisation with enormous reach, to spearhead Ireland’s first e-scooter safety course. At Bird, we enforce an age limit of 18 years across our platform but believe it is important to begin instilling e-scooter safety early to ensure the next generation ride responsibly.” 

Bird launches shared e-bike and smart bikeshare platform to meet demand for eco-friendly transportation. #Bird #Bikeshare #Micromobility

Bird, a leader in shared environmentally-friendly electric transportation, announced today the addition of shared e-bikes to its fleet of micro-electric vehicles and the launch of Bird Bike. Bird currently operates e-scooters in more than 250 cities globally and will bring its shared bikes and Smart Bikeshare Platform to select cities this year, including cities across Ireland.

The launch of the Bird Bike and Smart Bikeshare Platform comes as Ireland moves towards legislating for shared electric scooter schemes. While the Irish Government is drafting its Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, local Councils are preparing for launch in their areas, once electric scooters have been legalised.

The shared Bird Bike delivers on Bird’s commitment to broadening access to eco-friendly transportation around the world at a time when global demand for bikes and scooters has never been higher. With shared e-bikes, Bird will partner with cities that do not have, or are looking to supplement, an existing bike or scooter-sharing network to offer the highest quality vehicles and operations designed to meet the mobility needs of all riders.

“Shared e-scooters catapulted shared micromobility to the center stage of eco-friendly transportation in cities by providing more than 150 million zero-emission trips globally,” said Travis VanderZanden, founder and CEO of Bird. “We are launching our shared Bird Bike and Smart Bikeshare platform to meet fast-growing demand from cities and riders for more sustainable transportation options while expanding our serviceable addressable market by 5 billion trips per year.”

The Shared Bird Bike

Built with safety and durability as the focal points, the shared Bird Bike is a smart, connected vehicle that complements cities’ existing transportation networks. Each bike is equipped with a high-powered electric motor capable of powering riders up hills with as much as a 20% grade while its 75-pound frame and step through design offers riders of all sizes a sturdy yet maneuverable vehicle for increased safety. Additionally, the shared Bird Bike has a front basket for storage, large pneumatic tires for a smooth ride, and IoT features such as self-automating onboard diagnostics, geospeed technology and multi-mode geolocation to ensure compliant operations in cities and towns of all sizes.

bird bikeshare

Smart Bikeshare Platform Meets Demand for Eco-Friendly Transportation

Bird believes shared e-bikes and e-scooters should complement existing clean transportation and mass transit systems while being available and accessible to everyone. With its Smart Bikeshare platform, Bird can provide communities a robust suite of offerings including the Bird Bike, integrations with locally owned and operated bikeshare services, partnerships with transit apps for comprehensive trip planning, and access to additional eco-friendly transportation options such as e-mopeds provided by third parties.

Collaboration is at the heart of Bird’s operations; Bird is the first scooter operator to integrate with existing local shared bike and e-moped providers and transit apps. In Italy for example, Bird is partnering with Zig Zag, a local company, by integrating their vehicle availability directly in the Bird app to promote shared micromobility use. Bird is also working closely with groups like the North American Bikeshare Association (NABSA) and other transportation organizations around the world to bring these kinds of integrations to additional cities.

“Cities and riders are best served by efficient, collaborative and non-monopolized transportation networks,” said VanderZanden. “Our vision of smart, responsible bike sharing is to provide the best shared bikes and operations when cities need them, and having the foresight to offer the best support and multimodal integrations when they don’t. Cities, people and the planet win when there is greater access to eco-friendly transportation.”

Availability

Bird Bike, Bird’s newest vehicle built for shared use, will be available in select cities throughout North America, Italy, Spain, Germany, Ireland and France this year. Riders will be able to access Bird Bike via the Bird app’s effortless “scan and ride” experience and QR codes on each e-bike.

Cities and others interested in bringing Bird Bike or Bird’s Smart Bikeshare platform to their communities can email hello@bird.co for more information.

 

Bird In Ireland

Bird is eagerly anticipating the passage of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021, which will legislate for the use of Powered Personal Transport (PPT) vehicles including electric scooters. It is currently engaging with local councils, businesses and other organisations throughout Ireland to help them prepare for the introduction of e-scooters.

Charlotte Bailey, General Manager, UK & Ireland at Bird said: “Bird is delighted to make this really exciting announcement today, especially as Ireland will be one of our priority launch markets. We know how important multi-modality will be to Councils and with this announcement, consumers in their area will have the choice of Bird’s electric scooters, the Bird electric bike and even bikes from the existing operators in their locality, all on the one platform. With this announcement, Bird will now be the most experienced operator in the market, with the broadest offering for Councils and consumers, and we look forward to the journey towards safe and sustainable transport in Ireland.”

Bird Gears up for Irish Launch with $150m Investment in European Business. #MicroMobility #Escooters #EVS

Leading micro mobility operator Bird has today announced that it plans to operate in Ireland once legislation is passed. The company is investing $150m into its European business, to help cities remain car free as they start to ease restrictions following the pandemic. This investment will be used to open safe, sustainable micro mobility programmes in more than 50 new European locations, including towns and cities throughout Ireland.

The announcement comes as Bird ramps up engagements in Ireland with local councils, businesses and civil society organisations throughout the country. Bird has ambitious plans for Ireland and hopes to be operational not only in larger cities like Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, but also smaller cities and larger towns throughout the country.

Bird is the largest, most experienced and best-funded micro mobility operator yet to signal intentions for operating in Ireland. The planned $150m investment indicates the level of commitment which the company puts on the European region, including Ireland.

The investment will see Bird streamline its offer to local cities and customers, with new market-leading technologies. For example, once launched in Ireland, Bird will be able to provide new mobility products and safety initiatives and implement the next generation of recycling and second life applications for vehicles. The company will also be investing in industry-leading equity programmes and securing partnerships across the region designed to improve transportation for all Europeans, including those in Ireland.

To manage the Irish operations, former EMEA Expansion Lead Charlotte Bailey has been appointed General Manager of Bird UK & Ireland. Speaking about the European investment and Bird’s plans for Ireland, Bailey said: “Everyone at Bird is  really excited about this significant investment we’re making in our European business and the progress Ireland is making towards shared micro mobility. We’ve got big plans for Ireland and hope to operational not only in cities like Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, but also smaller cities and large towns throughout the country”.

As part of its investment, Bird is also introducing new Ride Pass products to give people even more reasons to leave their cars at home. These Ride Pass options, which would be available to Irish customers once launched, include:

  • Daily Unlimited Rides Pass
  • Monthly Unlimited Rides Pass
  • Monthly Unlimited Unlocks Pass
  • 3-Month Unlimited Unlocks Pass

To further push Bird’s European mission Irishman Brendan O’Driscoll has taken up the role of Head of Product, Growth and Data and will oversee Bird’s global product strategy and implementation. Ex-Boston Consulting Group Managing Director Renaud Fages is also taking the reins as Head of Global operations to help cement Bird’s European market leading position. Bird will double its footprint in the region over the spring and summer by launching in more than 50 new cities across Europe and increasing its fleet size in existing ones.

Speaking following the investment and about the Irish launch plans, Brendan O’Driscoll, Global Head of Product at Bird said: “I’ve been excited for years about the prospect of helping to bring Bird and shared micro mobility home to Ireland. Once legislation is passed in Ireland, promoting e-scooter access and encouraging routine micro mobility use will absolutely critical as we slowly lift pandemic restrictions and businesses begin to reopen. By simplifying our Global Ride Pass features and adding new pricing plans based on rider needs, Irish customers would be getting Bird’s very best customer offering.”