Those walking around downtown Detroit may see a new site on sidewalks and bike lanes as Bird, a scooter-sharing company, kicked off a pilot program on Friday.
- MoGo bike share expanding service in Detroit & 5 metro Detroit cities
- MoGo bike sharing program expands to make rides available for those with disabilities
According to the company, Bird is testing its fleet of dock-free, low speed electric scooters with members of the community in downtown Detroit.
The company launched in 2017 and it's sort of like MoGo, the bike-sharing program in Detroit, without the docks.
Those who want to use the scooters can download the Bird app in the App Store or Google Play to access the scooter parked across the city.
We are looking forward to testing our affordable, transportation option with the people and communities of Detroit, as they recognize the need for an accessible and reliable transit system," a Bird spokesperson said. "As ridership grows, and as part of our “Save Our Sidewalks” Pledge , we will adjust the number of Birds and areas they’re available based on rider demand. "
It costs $1 to start each ride plus $.15 cents per minute following. The scooters go to a maximum of 15 miles per hour and go about 15 miles on one charge.
Make sure to stay off the sidewalk though and instead ride in bike lanes or on the street, and park them out of the way of public pathways or bike racks.
Rides are only available during the day, and the Birds are dropped off at a "nest" by 7 a.m. and pickup begins at sunset. That's when they are stored, charged and repaired before being parked again in the morning. Each "nest" has about three scooters. You have to be 18 years old and upload a valid driver's license before riding.
To learn more about the company and how to use the app, click here.
