Bird

Overview:
Bird (Bird Global, Inc.) is a U.S. micromobility company founded in 2017. It operates a fleet of dockless electric scooters and bikes that users rent via a smartphone app for short urban trips. Bird’s service is present in hundreds of cities worldwide (over 350 cities), offering a pay-per-ride model. The company’s scooters are known for their distinctive yellow-green design.

Products and Services:
Bird’s core service is app-based scooter sharing. Riders locate and unlock a nearby scooter or bike using the Bird app and pay per minute or per ride. Bird handles scooter maintenance, recharging, and redistribution. It also introduced subscription passes (Bird One Pass) for unlimited rides in some markets. Bird provides safety features like speed limits and in-app tutorials, and it expanded offerings by acquiring Scoot (adding mopeds and e-bikes in select markets).

Geography and Markets:
Bird launched in the U.S. and rapidly expanded globally. Key markets include the United States, France, Germany, and Mexico. It gained significant presence in college towns and city centers. Bird often works closely with municipal regulators and conducts operations with local compliance programs. Its main competitors are Lime and regional scooter/bike-share programs, positioning Bird as a pioneering tech-driven urban mobility option.

Ownership and Corporate Structure:
Bird went public in 2021 (NYSE: BRDS) but faced financial challenges. In April 2024, Bird was acquired by micromobility startup Third Lane Mobility in a deal to avoid bankruptcy. Bird is no longer publicly traded. It remains headquartered in Miami, Florida, under the leadership of CEO Diego Cera, now reporting to Third Lane’s ownership.

Some Key Dates:
– 2017: Founded in Santa Monica, California
– 2018: Expanded to 120 cities worldwide within its first year
– 2021: Completed IPO on NYSE (ticker BRDS)
– 2024: Acquired by Third Lane Mobility to restructure (bought out after financial struggles)
– 2025: Continues expanding scooter and bike services in North America and Europe