City Council Approves Seasonal E-Scooter Program with Bird, Austin, MN, 2022

The City Council in Austin has approved a new electric scootersharing program with Bird. In this service, customers can borrow e-scooters on a short-term basis through a smartphone app. Single rides will cost $6. Bird will provide residents and visitors with a fleet of 75 scooters. The scooters have yet to be deployed, but the program will be dockless. Riders will be able to take the e-scooters to most places inside a designated service besides trails and sidewalks. E-scooters will not be available for about six months between November 15th and April 1st due to winter weather conditions.

The Austin City Council hopes that this partnership with Bird will bolster mobility choice and commerce across the town. Residents and visitors can access any part of Austin without using a freeway. Bird is operating this service at no cost to the municipal budget. Partnerships like this can demonstrate how micromobility can be a practical method for particular trips in small towns and rural communities.

Last updated June 6, 2022