BIG RAPIDS — As the winter months continue, you may have noticed a new absence of Bird scooters out on city streets in downtown Big Rapids. It seems the Birds have flown away for winter.
While the winter can be great for a lot of outdoor activities, it’s not exactly optimal for scooter use. As a result, in many areas that experience harsh winter weather, the Bird scooters will go into what the company calls "hibernation" for the season.
The company works with cities they serve to align on everything from mobility needs and service expectations in the winter to the logistics of quickly removing vehicles off the street in case of inclement weather.
The company moved the scooters into hibernation prior to winter weather arriving, according to Bird representative Lily Gordon
“Bird preps their operations teams for winter service well in advance," Gordon said. "This means teaching and reviewing best practices detailed in our winter handbook with our global fleet manager partners. Our main focus is always on safely and responsibly keeping vehicles on the road for as long as possible while ensuring the safest possible operations.”
As daylight hours get shorter and demand for micro-mobility changes during the colder winter months, Bird uses local input and statistical data to evaluate operating hours and fleet size on a city-by-city basis.
Riders in particularly cold or snow-prone markets may see a temporary reduction in the number of available vehicles. These figures can be adjusted in real-time based on daily temperatures and ground snow coverage. Currently, Big Rapids has no Bird scooters available to ride for the duration of the winter.
When Bird scooters return to the streets in spring, the representative said there will be many options for payment and use.
“Our beginner mode is great for new riders or those who just want to cruise and offers a gentle acceleration mode that helps riders feel comfortable and build confidence,” Gordon said. “Our 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. We handle reports of damage on a case-by-case basis.
“Another feature is community mode, which allows anyone with a Bird account to report or provide feedback on vehicle-related issues such as poorly parked or damaged vehicles in their area,” Gordon added. “Our on-the-ground team maintains our fleet of scooters in Big Rapids to make sure riders are safe year-round.”
Bird also provides 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.
Gordon said the company has had a successful relationship with the city and continues to cultivate that relationship.
“We are proud to partner with the City of Big Rapids to provide eco-friendly mobility to the community,” she said. “Residents have been enjoying the vehicles and using them for their commuting and transportation needs. We’re looking forward to our continued partnership with the city.”
Bird scooters are slated to return to Big Rapids streets as soon as inclement winter weather subsides and ride pathways have become safe to ride.
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December 16, 2021 at 05:32PM
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Bird (scooters) go into ‘hiberation’ for winter - The Pioneer
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