The City of San Ramon is pleased to announce the launch of a new micromobility pilot program, in partnership with Bird Global, Inc. The shared electric bike and scooter program will initially feature up to 150 vehicles distributed throughout the city at preferred parking locations—or “nests”—which can be rented through the Bird smart phone app (available on iPhone and Android).
San Ramon will be the first city to pilot shared mobility as part of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority’s (CCTA’s) Mobility on Demand (MOD) program.
Bird (NYSE:BRDS), a leader in environmentally friendly electric transportation, was originally selected by CCTA as the preferred operator of CCTA’s pilot program in May 2022, and has since been working with San Ramon to demonstrate vehicle usage, define a service area, and install stencils to delineate parking at locations selected by city staff, community members, and the Bird team. Bird was selected by CCTA in a competitive process judged by a panel of representatives from local agencies’ riders, who weighed experience, price, vehicle safety, and customizability, out of which Bird received the highest rating.
“Offering Bird’s cutting-edge shared micromobility vehicles and technology to the San Ramon Valley is first among many measures that will be necessary to achieve San Ramon’s greenhouse gas reduction target (40% below 1990 levels by 2030), and carbon neutrality by 2045” said Chris Weeks, Division Manager of Transportation at the City of San Ramon. “The technology in the Bird eBikes and eScooters offers the capability to define safe operation, and to monitor and control the fleet in real time, including setting slow speed zones and no-parking zones with unprecedented accuracy. Bird vehicles can be programed to operate no faster than a specific predetermined safe speed in zones defined by geo-fencing. When the Bird vehicles are operated in these zones, the vehicle communicates with the user using a digital dashboard on the scooter, then automatically adjusts to the parameters set for the zone. This allows the operator to create custom speed limits and zones that are completely off limits to the vehicles. This capability allows for special storage areas called ‘nests’ that allow orderly storage of vehicles when not in use.”
“Bird is extremely excited about launching a shared mobility program that could one day connect the entire East Bay and Tri-Valley Area,” said Austin Marshburn, Director of City and University Partnerships for Bird. “Bird is passionate about solving the ‘last mile’ problem currently facing the residents, commuters, and tourists of San Ramon.” Transit users often find it difficult to travel the first or last mile to or from their transit stop to their final destinations.
One of the central goals of CCTA’s pilot program is equity: specifically, to ensure that price is not a barrier to meaningful transportation access. As such, Bird offers a variety of discounted and cashless programs that can be accessed via its app. These include:
- Community Pricing Program: Bird offers qualifying groups such as veterans, students, teachers, senior citizens, and low-income individuals 50% off rides. Click here to apply.
- Alternative Payment Methods: Scooters may be rented by those without a smartphone, using SMS / text messaging. Android users can also rent e-scooters and e-bikes using cash.
- San Ramon System User Discount: All San Ramon Bird users will enjoy a new user discount: no unlock fees for the first three months. Users will be responsible for just the $0.39 per–minute ride fee.
About Bird
Bird is an electric vehicle company dedicated to bringing affordable, environmentally friendly transportation solutions such as e-scooters and e-bikes to communities across the world. Founded in 2017 by transportation pioneer Travis VanderZanden, Bird is rapidly expanding. Today, it provides fleets of shared micro electric vehicles to riders in more than 450 cities globally and makes its products available for purchase at www.bird.co and via leading retailers and distribution partners. Bird partners closely with the cities in which it operates to provide a reliable and affordable transportation option for people who live and work there.
