The scooters contribute to a more diverse mobility landscape, but the environmental impacts of producing and maintaining them need to be reduced.
Bird scooters are zero-emission vehicles, but the company faces a sustainability conundrum that it says it wants to address. While the scooters offer an alternative to driving, pollution is generated while collecting the scooters, energy is required to charge them, and their short lifespan means they need to be replaced often.
"But [Bird] is trying to cut those emissions; today, the company announced that it’s buying renewable energy credits and carbon offsets to mitigate the energy used to deliver and charge its scooters," reports Adele Peters.
The company says it is also working to make the scooters more durable. "Some reports have suggested that electric scooters last only about a month or two before they need to be replaced, which would mean the company was using an enormous amount of resources to replace those car trips," notes Peters.
FULL STORY: How Bird is working to make its scooters a truly sustainable transportation option
Paris Is Great, But Here's Where the Green Mobility Revolution Is Happening
A movement toward sustainable mobility is taking place across Europe, not just in the City of Lights.
Bird Scooters Now Automatically Slow in High-Activity Areas
Years after cities first started trying to regulate electric scooters with geofences and designated parking areas, Bird will begin automatically lowering scooter speeds in pedestrian-dense areas like school zones and hospitals.
Scooter Companies Convene Advisory Groups to Promote Safety
Both Bird and Lime have organized boards of experts to conduct research and advise the companies as their micromobility ventures grow.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
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San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan
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Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts
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Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions