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The UK finally welcomes e-scooters
The UK government is finally embracing e-scooters.
Bird adds a 'Warm Up Mode' for gentler acceleration
Bird is introducing a 'Warm Up Mode' that reduces acceleration to help newcomers, but that may be the least of their worries during the COVID-10 pandemic.
Bird wants you to make purchases through its mobile app
E-scooter startup Bird has started testing a new in-app payments feature called Bird Pay. If you live in Santa Monica or Los Angeles, you can try it out at select businesses across the two cities. If you see a tablet like the one pictured above, you can pay for a purchase by opening the Bird app, scanning a QR code, entering the amount you owe and then swiping up to confirm the payment. It's not as straightforward of a solution as say Apple Pay, but it does bypass the need for an NFC terminal -- which businesses in the US have been slow to adopt.
Bird's first non-electric scooter is made for kids
Bird is making a traditional kick-powered scooter for kids. The California-based startup, which has flooded countless cities with dockless electric scooters, will sell its child-friendly Birdie for $129 throughout the holiday season. The vehicle comes in three colors -- Jet Black, Dove White and Electric Rose -- and has all of the basic features you would expect from a three-wheeled scooter, such as height-adjustable handlebars, a lean-to-steer frame and rear-mounted "stomp brake." The company has warned that only "a limited number" are being made, so act fast if you fancy one.
Bird offers scooter credits when you take 'helmet selfies'
Scooter sharing companies have tried numerous ways of promoting helmet use, but Bird is trying a particularly direct method -- good, old-fashioned rewards. The service has introduced a "Helmet Selfie" feature that offers perks in return for snapping a photo of yourself wearing a helmet at the end of your trip. Computer vision automatically detects the helmet to keep riders honest. The full range of rewards isn't available, but ride credits are part of them. You may get to ride more often simply by protecting your cranium, then.
Scoot makes its new single-seat mopeds available in Los Angeles
You don't have to wait to try Bird's latest take on electric two-wheelers, provided you're an Angeleno. Bird's sub-brand Scoot has rolled out electric mopeds in Los Angeles as part of a pilot program. It's only a single-seater versus the two-seat Bird Cruiser, but the concept is otherwise the same -- it's a faster, more comfortable option for those who want to get around quickly and don't want to hop in a rideshare car. You can hail one from the Bird or Scoot apps, and it includes a helmet if you can't bring your own.
Miami’s gathering electric scooters before Dorian sends them airborne
With the help of hurricane-force winds, dockless electric scooters could soon start terrorizing more than mere city streets. The City of Miami has asked electric scooter companies to collect their fleets out of fear the vehicles could become flying projectiles once Hurricane Dorian makes landfall this weekend, reports CNBC. The municipal government issued a noon Friday deadline to all six of the companies that operate scooters in the city -- including Bird, Lime and Uber -- to pick up their respective fleets.
Bird's latest rideshare scooter is designed to thwart vandals
Rideshare scooters are designed to be a quick and convenient way to get around town, but because we're not allowed to have nice things, many are falling foul of damage and vandalism -- there's even an entire Instagram account dedicated to trashing them. But Bird is taking a stand, and has unveiled its next generation e-scooter that boasts an arsenal of anti-vandalism features.
Bird's purchase of Scoot lets it back into San Francisco
You knew it was just a matter of time before there was further consolidation in the e-scooter world. Bird is acquiring Scoot in a move that both describe as a matter of "scale" -- that is, it'll help them take on heavyweight rivals like Lime. Scoot will continue to operate under its own name as a subsidiary of Bird. It's not certain how much Bird paid for the deal, but TechCrunch noted that Scoot was valued at $71 million.
Bird is adding a shareable electric motorcycle to its fleet
Bird, the company that rents out electric razor scooters, is adding an electric motorcycle to its fleet of micro-mobility vehicles. The Bird Cruiser is described as a "seated electric vehicle," which can carry up to two adults at a time. You'll get a padded seat, a choice of pedals or pegs for your feet, and hydraulic disc brakes to ensure safe stopping.
Apple Pay will support NFC stickers on scooters and parking meters
Apple is reportedly working on a new NFC feature that will allow iPhone users to make Apple Pay purchases by tapping special, NFC-equipped tags. That means retailers won't need bulky terminals, and iPhone users won't need to download a third-party app before, say, buying clothes or adding miles to their scooter rental. According to 9to5mac, Apple is partnering with Bonobos clothing store, PayByPhone parking meters and Bird scooters on the initial roll out.
Bird says its new One e-scooter can survive a year of abuse
The e-scooter market feels like it's growing faster than you can speed down the street on one, which is pretty fast indeed. Today, micromobility company Bird has unveiled its newest model, Bird One, which promises to be significantly more durable than existing e-scooters, especially when used as part of a shared fleet.
Bird's monthly scooter rentals let you ride as much as you like
Bird isn't staying out of San Francisco just because it doesn't have a permit for its usual scooter service. It's launching a personal rental service in both San Francisco and Barcelona that gives you a scooter of your own for $25 per month. Order a scooter through the app and Bird will deliver it (plus a charger and lock) to a location of your choice, after which you can use it as much as you like. Bird will also pick up the two-wheeler when you're done.
Bird's big European expansion brings scooters to 50 cities
There's a good chance you'll have the option of riding a Bird scooter the next time you embark on a European trip. Bird has announced a "ten-fold" expansion of its scooter sharing fleet in Europe and the Middle East, with 50 new cities getting service starting this spring. The company didn't name the new cities, but it already has a presence in 12 cities that include London, Paris, Madrid and Tel Aviv.
Bird's new program lets local operators run their own scooter network
Bird's e-scooters are on their way to Canada, Latin America and New Zealand under a program that allows local business owners to set up their own networks. The company is opening up Bird Platform, which it first announced in November. Operators of the local networks can obtain scooters at cost, allow customers to find the vehicles through the Bird app and take advantage of the company's technology to help manage their business. In exchange, Bird is taking a 20 percent cut of revenue from each ride.
Electric scooters were to blame for at least 1,500 US injuries last year
Ever wondered how many e-scooter riders have gotten injured after one zooms past you with no helmet on? A new Consumer Reports investigation might give you an idea: the publication has confirmed that at least 1,545 patients were treated for scooter-involved injuries across the US over the past year. They aren't just scrapes, either. They include multiple concussions, nasal fractures, various broken bones, blunt head trauma and even brain injuries.
Uber may acquire Bird or Lime to accelerate its scooter plans
Uber might see its acquisition of Jump as just the start of its e-scooter ambitions. Sources speaking to The Information claim Uber has "recently" held talks to buy Bird and Lime, two of the biggest names in scooter sharing. The move would reportedly help Uber tackle scooter shortages that limit its growth, and would help it snap up vulnerable competitors who are still scrambling for funding.
Unagi's high-end electric scooter is a mix of design and power
I place one foot onto the narrow deck and briskly push with the other. As I press a lever with my right thumb, the handlebars I'm gripping jolt forward. Fortunately, the handlebars aren't attached to a speedboat -- they're part of the Unagi scooter I have just tried for the first time. At 15.5 mph, it's not the fastest scooter (some can reach nearly double that), but it's likely one of the most capable at hills (more on this later). Potentially a big selling point here in The Bay Area with its notorious inclines.
After Math: They're on the move
With the president's made up migrant caravan crisis having mysteriously vanished now that the midterms are over, it's time to take a look at the other movers and shakers from the industry this week. Volkswagen announced the development of a $23k Tesla rival, China has developed security cameras can now ID people by their gait, and Google's built a computer model to guess which restaurants will give you the runs.
Bird launches UK's first scooter sharing service on one London path
London faces some of the biggest transport problems in the world, but one startup thinks its electric scooter scheme could be the solution -- as long as it can get around the UK's draconian vehicle laws. US company Bird is set to launch the UK's first scooter-hire service in the capital, but it's only got permission to do so along a single path in the east London Olympic Park.
