WINDSOR, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bird Canada today announced that its shared e-scooters and e-bikes are returning to the City of Windsor effective this week. Weather permitting, Windsorites will once again be able to choose between e-scooters and e-bikes for a quick, easy, and low-cost way to get around the area bounded by the Riverfront Pathway to the north, Prince Road to the west, Tecumseh Road to the south, and Drouillard Road to the east. Plus, with Bird Canada’s partnership with the University of Windsor, Bird vehicles can now also be used on campus.
“Windsorites fully embraced our e-scooters last year, making it our most successful first year roll-out for a city in Canada. We believe we will see even greater adoption this year as riders shift from viewing e-scooters as a novelty to using them as a reliable, alternate mode of transportation,” said Stewart Lyons, CEO of Bird Canada. “We also anticipate renewed interest in our Bird Bikes, which will be widely available throughout the City for the entire season.”
Bird vehicles are an effective mode of travel to local restaurants, bars, retail locations, schools, and more. In 2021, 22,520 people in Windsor used Bird e-scooters, travelling an average of 2.8 kilometers per ride, for a total distance travelled of 564,866 kilometers.
Bird Canada plans to showcase a range of services and options available to Windsorites through the Bird app, with the goal of bringing increased foot traffic to support local businesses. Through its collaboration with the local Windsor business community, Bird Canada is also working to create an ecosystem of incentives for Bird Canada riders within the City.
Winter Riding Tips
With unpredictable conditions anticipated through spring, Windsorites are urged to pay even greater attention to safety while scooting or biking:
- After checking on local weather conditions, those looking to ride a Bird should open the Bird app to confirm if Birds are flying that day. In inclement weather conditions, Birds will not be available for riders.
- Riders are asked to use greater caution when riding in colder conditions by slowing down sooner and giving people and vehicles around them plenty of space.
- Rain or shine, following the rules of the road, including going with the flow of traffic and yielding to pedestrians, is key to rider safety.
- Wearing multiple layers, waterproof shoes, and warm gloves during the colder months all help to make riding extra comfortable in cooler temperatures.
- Using the bells on Bird vehicles will ensure cars, cyclists, and pedestrians are aware of a rider’s presence.
The Windsor pilot follows the broad rules and requirements set out by the Province of Ontario, including a minimum age of 16 years, required helmet use by riders under 18, and e-scooters equipped with a bell, brake, and lights. Bird Canada e-scooters will travel at a maximum speed limit of 20 km per hour, and riding will be prohibited on sidewalks, but permitted on all city-owned cycling facilities, multi-use pathways, footbridges, and on roads with speed limits of up to 50 km/hour. For Windsor’s waterfront pathways, all e-scooters will be capped at 15 km/h.
How Bird Canada e-Scooters and e-Bikes Work
- To use the e-scooters or e-bikes, riders need to download the Bird smartphone app.
- Through the app, riders can locate the most conveniently located Bird vehicle and ride directly to their desired destination.
- New riders are provided an in-app tutorial on how to ride a Bird and how to park it in compliance with local rules.
- Riders can start a trip on either vehicle by scanning the QR code located on the e-bike or e-scooter. The cost to ride the vehicles is the same: $1.15 to unlock and 0.35 per minute.
- Riders are encouraged to wear a helmet and can request a free helmet be sent to them through the app.
- Riders are requested to park Bird e-scooters and e-bikes in the furniture zone of the sidewalk, out of the public right of way, in line with benches, trees, and bike racks without blocking pedestrian travel. However, Bird Canada encourages all riders to park in the City of Windsor designated parking spots wherever possible. These designated parking spots can be found in the app.
Some areas within the City of Windsor are designated as Slow Zones (15km/h) or No Park Zones, as directed by the City of Windsor
About Bird Canada
Powered by Bird, Bird Canada Inc. operates an electric vehicle sharing program. Bird Canada is a Canadian-owned and operated company that offers Canadians, and visitors to Canada, a new way to avoid congestion and get around that is affordable and uses the latest and most innovative last-mile mobility solutions for urban areas.
For additional information, visit BirdCanada.ca, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.
