Yesterday we told you that Milwaukee’s nightmare of not being clogged with 1,050 electric scooters was almost over. And guess what we spotted on Milwaukee streets this morning? Yep, Spin e-scooters are officially here, joining Lime e-scooters on every corner, green space, and sidewalk in the city. What’s the difference between Spin and Lime? Well, Spin is owned by Ford, and their scooters are kind of orange. Lime scooters are green.
BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE. Bird e-scooters are set to show up on Milwaukee streets tomorrow. Yes, one year after yanking their then-illegal vehicles from the city, Bird is back, baby. The shroud of the dark side has fallen. Begun, the Milwaukee Scooter War has.
Under a citywide e-scooter pilot program, all three companies are allowed a fleet of 350 scooters. Also, that pilot program can end at any time, so don’t ride these things on the sidewalks.
Here’s a Bird press release:
Bird to Launch in Milwaukee Tomorrow
Bird Returns to Milwaukee with its Environmentally Friendly E-Scooter ServiceSanta Monica, Calif., August 13, 2019 – Tomorrow, Bird will officially launch its fleet of shared electric scooters in Milwaukee as part of the city-run pilot program. The founder of the shared e-scooter movement, Bird brings its unmatched safety record and operational excellence to Milwaukee to help residents get around town sustainably while reducing traffic congestion and emissions.
“We have long looked forward to partnering with Milwaukee to help bring transportation alternatives to residents. Communities throughout the city can benefit from having an affordable and environmentally friendly option for getting around without having to get in the car — and we’re thrilled that Bird can now be one of those options,” said Paul Steely White, Director of Safety Policy at Bird.
Since its founding, Bird’s mission has been to make cities more livable by reducing traffic and carbon emissions. The company is focused on making Bird e-scooters the best transportation solution for replacing short car trips — 40 percent of which are under three miles long.
To encourage safety best practices, new riders will have to go through a safety tutorial in the Bird app before taking their first ride. Bird also recently announced its s.h.a.r.e. Safe Streets Tour where the company will work with organizations and communities around the world to better ensure that Bird riders are properly equipped to responsibly enjoy their journey. Bird plans to bring this tour to Milwaukee later this summer to celebrate its launch in the city.
For more information, please visit https://www.bird.co/. Also attached are photos relating to Bird, how it works, and the company’s s.h.a.r.e. safety tips.