Bird, the electric scooter sharing app, has today launched the UK’s first electric scooter pilot in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Bird brings an affordable, environmentally friendly transportation solution to the area. From 7am to 9pm people heading between Stratford and Here East, the technology-focused campus, will be able to find and unlock an electric scooter through the Bird app.
This launch follows recent launches in Paris, it’s first European city, Brussels, Vienna, Antwerp and Zurich. Bird has been delighted with how people in these cities have taken to the service. The company is helping to solve ‘the last mile’ problem, where journeys are too short for public transport to be efficient, but too long to walk. Many of these journeys have traditionally taken place in cars adding to congestion and carbon emissions. Bird is giving people an environmentally friendly alternative to taking a car.
Bird hopes this private land pilot will demonstrate the advantages the service could bring to the capital and help the ongoing constructive conversations with policy makers. The scooters are GPS tracked and will power down if they cross the park boundary and off private land or deviate from the approved route.
Safety is a top priority for Bird, and we have a number of policies and initiatives to make sure it remains a positive addition to the transport mix. We require all riders to be over 18 before they can ride. All riders consent to a safety agreement with Bird, and those who do not act responsibly can be banned from the app. Furthermore Bird gives away helmets to riders that want one.
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