Bird (company)

Bird is a micromobility company based in Santa Monica, California. Founded in September 2017 Bird operated shared electric scooters in over 100 cities in Europe, the Middle East, and North America with 10 million rides in its first year of operation.[2]

Bird Rides, Inc.
IndustryDockless electric scooter sharing
Founded1 September 2017 (2017-09-01)
Santa Monica, California, United States
FounderTravis VanderZanden
HeadquartersSanta Monica, California, United States
Area served
Europe, Middle East, North America
Number of employees
ca. 600 (April 2020)[1]
SubsidiariesScoot
Websitebird.co

History

Bird was founded in September 2017 by Travis VanderZanden, formerly an executive at Lyft and at Uber. It had its Series A round of funding in February 2018, raising $15 million led by Craft Ventures; this was followed by a Series B round in March for $100 million, led by Index Ventures and Valor Equity Partners, and a venture round in May for $150 million from Sequoia Capital,[3][4] becoming the fastest company to ever reach the $1 billion "unicorn" valuation.[5] In June 2018, Bird raised an additional $300 million, valuing the company at $2 billion.[6]

In September 2018, Bird's electric scooters reached 10 million rides.[7]

In October 2018, Bird announced its Bird Zero vehicle. The Bird Zero was designed for ride sharing with "more battery life for longer range, better lighting for increased visibility, and enhanced durability for a longer life-span."[8]

In November 2018, Bird released the Bird Platform, a program based on the company's mobile app and Bird Zero vehicles that allowed independent operators to use Bird's infrastructure to run their own fleet of shared, branded electric scooters.[9]

In January 2019 Axios reported that Bird was raising $300 million in new funding led by Fidelity as an extension of its C funding round.[10] Bird did not confirm this report.[11]

On June 12, 2019, Scoot Networks was acquired for an undisclosed value as a wholly owned subsidiary of Bird.[12][13][14] The deal was expected to be valued around $25 million in a combination of cash and stock. The acquisition was to allow Bird to operate shared electric scooters in San Francisco.

In July 2019, Bird was said to be valued at $2.5 billion.[15] In July 2019, the company was raising Series D funding, led by venture capital firm Sequoia Capital and CDPQ. This funding was intended to help the company become profitable and also continue to do further research and development of the vehicle.[16] In October 2019, the firm successfully closed Series D funding, raising $275 million and reaching 2.8 billion valuation.[17] This new funding was expected to help the company to upgrade its fleet with a focus on a more sustainable Bird Two model.[18]

In November 2019, Bird launched the "Helmet Selfie” safety feature to incentivize riders into wearing helmets when using Bird vehicles.[19] Users can submit a self-portrait photo of themselves wearing a helmet through the app, and receive future ride credits.[20][21]

In January 2020, Bird acquired rival Berlin based scooter company, Circ.[22]

For March 2020, Bird had planned to launch in Austin, Texas after the Austin City Council approved the creation of a “dockless” bike-share pilot program in February 2018.[23]

Bird initially responded to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic by increasing cleaning and sanitizing efforts in March 2020.[24] Later that month, Bird scaled down operations (reportedly even suspending them within all markets), and terminated around 40% of its then about 1060 employees in a group Zoom meeting.[1] The company halted operations in six US cities (San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, Portland, Miami, and Coral Gables), as well as European markets, including Annecy, Antwerp, Barcelona, Berlin, Bordeaux, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Krakow, Lisbon, Lyon, Madrid, Marseille, Munich, Paris, Rimini, Sevilla, Stockholm, Torino, Verona, and Vienna.[25]

Usage
Bird scooter QR code

The user installs the Bird app, on which are displayed all the scooters available (tracked by GPS) nearby. Before starting a trip, the user supplies payment information. The user then scans the QR code on the scooter, beginning the trip. To end the trip, the user must take a photo of the parked scooter to end the ride. The price of the trip is immediately withdrawn from the user's credit card. If any problems were encountered with the trip (like a malfunctioning vehicle) the user can report it through the app.

Operating area and hours

On the Bird app, the user can see the operating area of the service and also view a tutorial on how to use the scooter.[26] Riding outside of the operating area is tolerated, but if the user leaves the scooter outside the operating area, they will be charged a fee. The fee changes based on the location. On the map, there are various red zones, in which users are prohibited to park. If the rider misbehaves, they will incur a fine. Bird has worked with various cities to launch a 100-city tour to work closely with local officials on policies.[26]

While Bird doesn't have set operating hours, the availability of scooters during nighttime is severely reduced because the scooters need to be recharged every night. Nevertheless, if a user finds a scooter outside during the nighttime, they can still unlock it. Bird operates every day of the week.

Bird's revenue is lower during winter, and at the beginning of the warmer months, many scooters are taken out of hibernation, an operation internally known as the "Spring Push".[1]

Locations

As of 2018, Bird operates its electric scooters in 100 cities across the globe.[27][28]

Vehicles

Bird uses electric scooters for its rental service. It launched with a fleet with the bird zero.

Bird developed its own, rugged scooter, the Bird Zero, launched in October 2018. The Bird Zero is specifically made for the scooter rental industry, with a longer lifespan.[29] The Zero is better optimized for the ride sharing business: extended range, suspension, airless tires, stronger motor and a more durable body. As of July 2019, Bird Zero scooters make up more than 75% of the company's fleets.[30]

In May 2019, Bird stopped purchasing and distributing both Segway models,[31] and launched Bird One, the first Bird scooter made available for purchase as well as shared-use.[32] Improvements incorporated into this model include longer battery life (up to 30 miles on a single charge), a more responsive brake system, and better lighting and stability features.[33] According to the company, Bird Zero scooters have a lifespan of roughly ten months [34] and Bird One scooters are designed to last in the sharing environment for over a year.[35]

In June 2019 Bird unveiled the Bird Cruiser, an electric vehicle that is a blend between a bicycle and a moped. It seats up to two people and is designed to be part of Bird's shared vehicles fleet.[36]

In August 2019 Bird launched Bird Two[37] This model includes improvements to battery life, 50% more capacity than Bird One, self-reporting damage sensors, higher traction and puncture-proof tires, as well as anti-tipping kickstands on both sides.[38]

Prices

Generally, in countries where the Euro or the Dollar is used, the price is €/$1 to unlock the scooter, then €/$0.15 per minute. The monthly fee for renting a scooter is $25.[39] However prices for sharing and monthly rentals differ according to country, currency and  local laws.

Competition

Bird's main competitor is American Lime. Nevertheless, many other smaller dockless electric scooter sharing companies have been funded before and after Bird's arrival, including Scoot Networks, which has since been acquired by Bird,[40] and Skip Scooters. In addition, in 2018 Uber released a line of rentable scooters that have presented competition to mainstream companies like Bird and Lime.[41] They also now have bikes that can be rented for short uses that are placed around urban cities.[42]

User collaborations

Chargers

Bird scooters are charged by gig workers, private contractors who sign up to become Chargers. The company sends approved Chargers charging equipment, and pays them to charge scooters overnight then place them at designated "nests" throughout the company's service area in the morning. Charging can become competitive, with Chargers in some markets using vans and other creative means to pick up scooters all over the city.[43]

The amount of money that Bird gives the independent contractors for charging a particular scooter depends on how long the scooter has been sitting out on the street after being flagged for needing a charge and before the Charger reflags the scooter in an app to claim the reward.

Parking

Since Bird is a dockless electric scooter sharing system, it does not provide parking stations. As a result, scooters can be found throughout cities to help people connect to transit offerings and central locations.[44][45] However, Bird strongly encourages to park responsibly curbside, at its stations or at bike racks.

In November 2018 Bird added a crowdsourced parking feature called “Community Mode” to its app. The feature enables users to report improperly parked scooters to Bird, which then sends staff to move them to better parking locations.[46]

In June 2019 Bird added a new feature for cities that agree to reclaim parking spaces for micromobility. First rolled out in Paris, the app directs riders to close by approved parking spots and awards them a discount on their next ride if they park there.[47]

Nests

Bird, in select cities and countries, has created special designated parking spaces for Bird scooters. When available, users are strongly encouraged to park there.

Recognition

In 2018, Time Magazine named Bird as one of its "50 Genius Companies", commending its contribution to the "'first mile, last mile' problem in transportation. Because public transit stops are often a little too far from the places where people begin and end their journeys, they choose to drive, clogging up the roads and polluting the air. Bird is pioneering a new way to get those people to leave their cars at home."[48] In both 2018 and 2019, LinkedIn named Bird one of the most sought-after startups in the United States.[49][50]

Controversies

Mass layoffs during pandemic

In March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and national shutdown, Bird laid off 400+ employees via Zoom during a call that lasted approximately two minutes. The company immediately locked out all affected employees from accessing company systems.[51][52][53]

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Scooters were initially banned in Milwaukee when Bird Rides Inc. started their scooter business without government permission. Wisconsin's Governor Tony Evers signed a bill on July 11, 2019 regulating scooters.[54] The Milwaukee Common Council and Mayor Tom Barrett banned Bird Scooters from operating in the city and passed an ordinance giving law enforcement permission to impound scooters. They also sued the scooter company.[55]

In May 2019 Bird reached a settlement with the city of Milwaukee regarding the lawsuit.[56] In the following August Milwaukee's Department of Public Works announced it would allow Bird to operate in the city again.[57]

San Francisco, California

In August 2018 Bird, Lime and several other micromobility companies were banned by the City of  San Francisco, California citing safety concerns as the reason. The Municipal Transportation Agency then launched a pilot scooter sharing program allowing only Skip and Scoot to operate in the city.[58] Lime tried and failed to appeal the decision[59] and Bird began offering its scooters as a monthly rental as a way around their prohibition.

In September 2019, the city of San Francisco announced the four permit holders that would be able to operate. Operators were able to submit an application and the city down-selected based on several criteria, including safety. Bird was one of the selected operators through its subsidiary Scoot.[60]

Seattle, Washington

Seattle, Washington has banned scooter shares, and city law currently bars use of motorized foot scooters on sidewalks and bicycle lanes.[61] Mayor Jenny Durkan announced in May, 2019 that her administration will soon begin crafting a pilot program for scooter share.[62]

Accidents and deaths

Bird electric scooters have been involved with some accidents and deaths involving scooters.[63]

References
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