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Will Bird Electric Hire Scooter Change the Game

gaycarboys - Alan Zurvas

Will Bird Electric Hire Scooter Change the Game

Imagine you want to make a quick run to the shops or a  schlepp to the station and you’re not feeling like a walk. Perhaps you just want to take a spin out in the fresh air. What do you do?

Hire a nifty electric scooter of course.

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Bird scooter hire operates in 150 cities across the planet. In 2018 they came up with the 1st iteration, BirdZero. This off-the-shelf scooter was good, but not quite up to snuff. A bespoke design was needed to withstand the beating inflected on it by enthusiastic riders.

The yet-to-be-released BirdThree is the latest scooter, and it is a cracker.

We chatted with James Ho, Bird’s regional boss, to get the low-down and some top tips.

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ABOVE: 2021 Bird Electric Hire Scooter

First, the scooter itself:

It is packed with bags of cool tech. A Bluetooth lock holds a helmet, and on-board systems monitor position and condition. It locks and unlocks, monitors speed, and tracks the trip through the phone app.

It is a Gen-Z, on wheels!

Even downhill, regenerative braking won’t allow speed above 30kph. It is slightly slower uphill with this larger rider at the controls. 10” tyres are puncture proof, yet provide a cushioned ride.

Handsome aluminium construction makes the unit feel tough, with a slightly retro look to the aircraft-like design. Grips are made of a Covid-Safe material, with an LCD display in-between, where data, where speed and charge is displayed.

How does the App work?

Like Tesla and other EV’s, the BirdThree is connected via 4G. The Scooter is just part of an “connected” infrastructure designed to protect both the unit, and the rider.

Here’s how it works: –

Download the app and open an account.

You can then see available scooters in any city where Bird operates. The Uber-like map allows you to Zoom to the area you want. You can reserve a scooter for up to an hour before you get there, then unlock the helmet, and get under way. Bird keeps tabs on safety by having a selfie of the rider with helmet on, just in case you’re wondering.

The app tracks your ride, and how much you’ve spent. Pricing can very depending on demand, the area of use, and will also track incentives, but more about that later.

When you get to your destination, end the ride on the app and walk away.

What’s a Bird Scooter like to Ride:

I expected fun, and I got it, in bucket loads. The fact that it is practical is beside the point. Anyone who can ride a bike, can ride a scooter.

My ride was about 20 minutes of hills, bumps, and varying lumpy terrain. Steep hills were knocked over in a thrice, but what goes up must come down. Despite the steep grade, the scooter didn’t allow a combined mass of 130kg to go horribly wrong. The braking system kept the speed to 30kph, which is oodles believe me. Even if you give it the beans, it simply will not go faster.

On the flat, acceleration is brisk yet controlled. The go-lever is large enough to feel comfortable, and is a dead-man’s switch so if you let go the power stops. In addition to the regenerative braking, there are front disc and rear drum brakes, which feels akin to what you find on modern bikes.

It takes a moment to get used to the small pneumatic tyres, even with the self-centering steering.

There is around 50km of range, but I doubt anyone is going to want to stand in the one spot for 50km. The range is industry-leading but the rider doesn’t have to worry about charging. If you find your charge getting low, you simply pick up another scooter. How genius is that?

How do I charge it?

This is where the convenience comes in to play, the rider never has to worry.

Bird tracks the condition and charge of your scooter. They also keep an eye on demand, and teams of powder-wigged flunkies trawl the suburbs led by the “operator” function of the phone app. Scooters needing a seeing to, are taken back to the HQ for a clean and charge.

Are the Scooters Covid-Safe?

Yes. The scooters are cleaned regularly, and touch points are treated with long-acting solutions to keep Covid and other nasties under control.

What Are the Fees?

As an example, Bird showed us a sample ride account. An unlock fee of $1, plus 38c per minute is applied, then charged to your account. Like our Opal App, it is transparent and open.

But wait, there’s more. Bird will provide free rides as incentives. Perhaps a scooter needs to go from one spot to another, or you’re a frequent user, Bird will send a push through with tasty gifts that benefit everyone.

Is Wet Weather an issue?

Don’t use it in a cyclone, don’t ride through a flood. Use your noggin, it’s an electric device.

Where can Bird Scooters be Used?

Australia is about a million years behind the rest of the world. Queensland allows electric scooters, but New South Wales doesn’t, such is our fractured approach to the 21st century.

If we are not to be left in the technology wasteland, we must do better. Currently, electric personal transport is a “last mile” solution such as the part of your trip between home and the bus or train stop. But, is there any reason why you wouldn’t want to do a 4 or 5km trip to work and back?

Based on the current fees, it would be cheaper to take a bus, but who knows what the future holds. Although there is a point at which buying your own scooter is cheaper, issues such as storage and charging become the user’s problem.

How many Bird Scooters are there?

There are around 100,000 units world-wide. Each one lasts between 2 and 2 ½ years and Bird aims for 2.5 trips per unit, per day. Not only is it only a brilliant business proposition, but an excellent transport solution.

When Will Bird be available in Australia?

That rather depends on government. Councils don’t want thousands of abandoned scooters. Lessons of previous ventures still litter streets to this day. Currently there is no start date but we will keep across the story.

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