LOS ANGELES (BRAIN) — Micromobility company Bird will enter the bike-sharing market this year with a line of pedal-assist e-bikes and a Smart Bikeshare platform.
Bird Bike will complement the e-scooter sharing service that Bird operates in more than 250 cities globally. In addition to North American cities, Bird Bike will be offered in Italy, Spain, Germany, Ireland, and France this year. Bird did not say which North American cities it is targeting.
"Shared e-scooters catapulted shared micromobility to the center stage of eco-friendly transportation in cities by providing more than 150 million zero-emission trips globally," said Travis VanderZanden, Bird's founder and CEO. "We are launching our shared Bird Bike and Smart Bikeshare platform to meet fast-growing demand from cities and riders for more sustainable transportation options while expanding our serviceable addressable market by five billion trips per year."
Bird Bikes have 26-inch wheels, a motor capable of assisting riders up 20% grades (15.5 mph maximum speed), and an aluminum step-through frame. Other features include drum brakes, front basket, self-automating onboard diagnostics, geospeed technology, and multi-mode geolocation to ensure compliant operations in cities and towns of all sizes. Bikes will have a 56-mile range on a single charge.
With its Smart Bikeshare platform, Bird works with existing mobility companies, integrating with bikeshare services, collaborating with transit apps for trip planning, and accessing additional eco-friendly transportation options.
According to Bird, it was the first e-scooter company to integrate with local shared bike and e-moped providers to promote multimodal e-mobility. In Italy, Bird joined Zig Zag, a shared e-moped provider, to display its line on the Bird app. Bird also is working with the North American Bikeshare Association to grow micromobility solutions.
Cities interested in bringing Bird Bike or Bird's Smart Bikeshare platform to their communities can email hello@bird.co for more information.
