If you’ve driven around Poplar Bluff much lately, you’ve likely noticed a number of people riding scooters.
The scooters are part of a new “micro-electric transportation” program partnership between the City of Poplar Bluff and Bird Rides, Inc., the company which operates the motorized scooters.
Bird Rides, city planner James Sisk said, approached the city about the scooters in the spring.
“They sent us a contract and we took it to (city attorney) Mark Richardson. He looked at it and didn’t see a problem with it,” recalled Sisk.
The Poplar Bluff City Council approved the use of the scooters at its June 7 meeting.
“There will be 75 Birds in Poplar Bluff,” said a company representative via email.
Scooters are parked in various locations around the city, including near the Black River Coliseum, Poplar Bluff Municipal Library, near Haffy’s Sports Bar and Grill, along Vine Street, as well as near popular trails at McLane Park, the intersection of Shelby and Oak Grove roads, and more.
The scooters also will be available at Three Rivers College.
To rent a scooter, a rider must first download the Bird.co app to their smartphone and create an account.
Once signed in, the app will display on a map any nearby Birds which might be available.
Once a vehicle is found, a rider can use the app to photograph its QR code to unlock it. Pricing also is available in the app.
There is a 220-pound weight limit on each scooter, and riders are supposed to be at least 18 years old.
Each Bird, according to the company, has a range of 15 to 20 miles between charges.
When a rider is ready to end his or her ride, they are asked to consult the app again to find an approved parking area.
The Birds typically are parked in small groups on the edge of city sidewalks, where they will not impede foot traffic.
Once a Bird is parked, the rider must tap the “End Ride” button on their app and take a photo of the parked scooter to complete their ride.
So far, Sisk said, he believes most of the rides have been undertaken in a recreational manner instead of for transportation, but he expects that to change soon.
“I see it being an asset from the college to restaurants or the hospital to Walmart and stuff like that,” he said.
Bird Rides offers what it calls an expanded “Community Pricing Program,” with a 50% discount for low-income riders, Pell Grant recipients, select local nonprofit and community organizations, veterans and senior citizens.
To sign up for the Community Pricing Program, riders can download the app, create an account and email their proof of eligibility to access@bird.co. Approval, according to company documentation, typically takes two to three business days.
Sisk said the city has fielded some calls about safety from residents and urges those with questions or concerns to contact Bird Rides at www.bird.co.
“Like cyclists, riders are required to abide by all local traffic laws,” the company’s website says.
Sisk currently is working on an updated map depicting where the scooters will be allowed to operate.
“I am currently working on another map to block out certain areas of town where we don’t think they need to be,” he said. “We’re going to probably try to keep them fully out of the (Highway) 67 corridor for safety’s sake and probably lock out a lot of residential areas as well. I really don’t see a need for them to be in residential areas period.”