PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield and Bird have teamed up again to bring shared e-scooters back to the city.

 

"After a successful first launch of e-scooters in Pittsfield, I am excited to welcome back Bird for 2023. Pittsfield continues to lead the way as a municipality in providing alternative forms of transportation to residents and visitors," said Mayor Linda Tyer.

 

Bird launched a pilot program with Pittsfield last spring, and Residents of and visitors to Pittsfield completed over 25,000 rides on Bird Scooters in 2022 enjoying an affordable, eco-friendly alternative to cars that allowed residents to get around efficiently and encouraged visitors to explore the city.

 

Along with transit benefits, Bird Scooters have also been shown to increase the amount of spending in a city and spurred significant foot traffic and economic activity for Pittsfield area businesses, accordimg to a press release.

 

"It is essential that we prioritize sustainable transportation solutions in our city. By welcoming

Bird back to Pittsfield, we are actively promoting a cleaner and greener city. When we choose to ride a scooter instead of using a personal vehicle for short trips, we reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a more environmentally friendly community," said Ricardo Morales, Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities for the City of Pittsfield.

 

According to a press release, Bird is a micro-mobility company that aims to make cities more livable by reducing car trips, traffic congestion and carbon emissions, all of which contribute to over a quarter of

greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. 

 

The company's scooters provide a safe, eco-friendly way to get around, shop local and offer residents without cars or with limited access to public transit a reliable, convenient transportation option.

 

"We applaud the city of Pittsfield for leading the Commonwealth in welcoming convenient, sustainable and affordable transportation options to residents and visitors," said Lauren Scribi, Senior Manager of Government Partnerships at Bird. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration with city leaders to provide our industry-leading e-scooters during the 2023 season."

 

Bird offers number of features including its Community Pricing Program, where low-income riders, veterans, and senior citizens receive a 50 percent discount as well as select local nonprofits and community organizations.

 

Those who qualify can sign up by downloading the Bird app, creating an account, and emailing proof of eligibility to access@bird.co.

 

The City of Pittsfield shares the following reminders when riding e-scooters:

 

• only one person per scooter

• utilize the designated bike lanes where available

• no riding on the sidewalks

• follow the rules of the road

• wear a helmet

• park the scooter adequately