Electric Bird scooters to stick around Freeport at least 3 more years

Jim Hagerty
·2 min read
Bird, a company that provides electronic scooter rentals in communities across the United States, has arrived in Freeport.
Bird, a company that provides electronic scooter rentals in communities across the United States, has arrived in Freeport.

FREEPORT — The electric scooter program that gave residents a faster and more fun way to get around Freeport will be around for at least a few more years.

The city and Bird Rides, a ride-share company based in Santa Monica, California, entered into an agreement earlier this year, and on Aug. 27, 50 scooters landed in Freeport. In just over two months, they were ridden 580 times, buzzing around town for a total of 1,460 miles — numbers that officials say more than justify bringing the scooters back.

Bird Rides is outlined in Freeport's 2022-24 Strategic Plan that calls for the city to be a more "connected and accessible community," said Kevyn Sutter the city's director of communications.

"Whether Bird scooters are used for recreation or for commuting, the city is excited to offer this new form of transportation," Sutter said. "We expect more success to come in the 2022 season.”

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The program is of no cost to the city, and Freeport does not share in the company's revenue.

Bird Rides maintains the fleet, recharging scooters every night and placing them where they are used most within their designated operational zone. The designated zone includes downtown Freeport, nearby schools, and some of the west side near Highland Community College, making them a popular transportation option for students.

Anyone 18 and older can rent a scooter through the Bird mobile app. The company charges a $1 initial ride fee and then about 35 cents per minute. A fully charged scooter can travel 15 to 20 miles.

Bird Rides is in more than 100 cities worldwide including Beloit, Wisconsin, and Rockford, where the company registered 13,361 total rides from June 1 through Aug. 31.

Rockford officials haven't announced year-end ridership numbers or whether the program would continue in 2022 but said in September the scooters were an instant hit.

The Bird app features a Community Pricing Program that gives a 50-percent discount to low-income riders, Pell grant recipients, select local non-profit and community organizations, veterans, and senior citizens.

Helmets are not required, but Bird Rides encourages riders to wear them.

Jim Hagerty is a freelance correspondent.

This article originally appeared on Journal Standard: Electric Bird scooters in Freeport staying for at least 3 more years